Do you want to find out more about Selective Eating Disorder (SED)? What is SED? Are you concerned you or someone you know has the condition?
This guide tells you all you need to know about the causes of SED. The symptoms to look out for and the best treatment options.
Table of Contents
SED isn’t fussy eating
Because the condition isn’t well known, SED is often dismissed as fussy eating, even by medical professionals. But the key difference is that while fussy eaters choose not to eat certain foods. SED sufferers don’t have a choice.
In fact, if you have SED you might go to such great lengths to avoid ‘unsafe’ foods that there are profound consequences for your quality of life. SED sufferers can face serious health problems as a result of not getting the nutrients they need. The condition can impact your mental health. This can leave you anxious, withdrawn and depressed.
Foods I’d Like To Eat
Foods That Are Safe
What is Selective Eating Disorder?
Selective Eating Disorder (SED), now referred to as Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder that’s only recently been recognised by the medical community.
SED sufferers can only eat a very limited range of foods. Whole food groups such as vegetables or dairy may be off limits. Sometimes sufferers need foods to be prepared in a certain way. Maybe its eating potato that’s mashed but not baked or fried.
Although SED is most common among children and young people, it can affect anybody at any age. Adults with SED tend to have experienced symptoms for a long time. Consequently these have become more severe as they’ve got older.
Unlike other eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, SED sufferers aren’t limiting what they eat because they’re afraid of gaining weight. They’re limiting what they eat because they’re afraid of food.
SED can actually be described as a phobia of food. If you have SED, the prospect of eating an ‘unsafe’ food will make you feel panicky. So this could make you retch or vomit.
SED isn’t attention-seeking
Sometimes people assume SED sufferers are avoiding food to get attention. Actually, SED sufferers dread the attention their condition can bring.
While most people are familiar with other phobias like the fear of flying or the fear of confined spaces. The phobia of food isn’t as well understood. If you have SED you might avoid eating in front of people. This is because you’re worried about being judged.
The condition can lead to limited social interaction, as so many social activities involve eating. For example, birthday parties, after work socialising and dating all involve food. In this way SED can hinder school and college progress, and limit career progression.
What causes SED?
SED is usually caused by a traumatic or stressful event in the past that’s made you associate food with a threat. As a child you might have choked on food. Or you might have become ill (or witnessed someone else become ill) after eating.
Avoiding these ‘unsafe’ foods only reinforces the belief that they’re dangerous. So, while a past event may have first triggered the fear. It certainly can get worse over time.
If you’re a parent of a child who suffers from SED you might feel you’re to blame. However there’s no evidence that parenting causes SED. Your child’s condition isn’t your fault, but you are in a good position to get your child help.
Signs and symptoms of SED
If you suspect you or someone you know suffers from SED there are some symptoms to look out for.
This list is intended as a guide rather than a diagnosis. Not all SED sufferers will have all these symptoms. But if some of them sound familiar it could indicate you have the condition:
• Feeling fear and revulsion at the prospect of eating ‘unsafe’ foods
• Only eating a very narrow range of foods (usually less than 20 foods)
• Not having much appetite
• Avoiding social situations where food is present
• Only eating food that’s a certain colour, texture or is cooked in a certain way
In addition to the symptoms listed above, SED sufferers might experience some of the following symptoms:
• Being withdrawn, anxious or depressed
• Very sensitive to the flavour and texture of food
• Lack of energy
• Being overweight or underweight
• Nutritional issues like high cholesterol or an illness related to vitamin deficiency.
Treatment for SED Sufferers
If you’re worried you or someone you know has Selective Eating Disorder. The good news is that it’s a treatable condition.
Currently, there’s limited understanding of the condition even among some medical professionals. Some treatments offered can extend for months at a time. But there is a fast and effective option.
It’s a gentle approach that works by changing your perception of food, so you can eat without fear, and because it addresses your automatic reactions it works very quickly. Usually, clients overcome the condition after just one session.
0 Comments