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Img: Danielle Helm |
However, those affected argue that there is a clear and
distinct difference between SED and picky eating, even if UK support groups and
organisations such as the National Centre for Eating Disorders don’t deem it to
be a valid condition. Over in the US, SED was recognised as a category of
eating disorder by the American Psychiatric Association in 2013, being
acknowledged in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The UK still has a very
different opinion.
Speaking to Refinery29,
Founder of the National Centre for Eating Disorders, Deanne Jade, asserted
that, “Selective eating is another word for faddy eating, and is not an eating
disorder.”
She further states that DSM-5 has “complicated the field by
giving eating problems too many descriptions which are not clinically useful.”
Countering her stance is Felix Economakis, a chartered
psychologist and clinical hypnotist specialising in the fast and effective
treatment of anxiety disorders. Felix was introduced to the somewhat bizarre
disorder during an appearance on a British documentary series, and has since
treated hundreds of patients with an actual fear of certain foods. He says that
the disorder presents more like a phobia than other recognised eating
disorders, which often stem from body image issues.
During a recent appearance on Global News Edmonton, Felix spoke of how he has worked with individuals that “lived
off one food, often just two or three”, which can have a substantial negative
effect on both their health and their daily interactions. Although the disorder
typically presents during childhood and is rarer among adults, for older patients
it can be a severe problem as many social and business interactions take place
over a meal. A desire to cover up the disorder often leads to other
anxiety-related issues in such circumstances.
In an attempt to more clearly define the difference between
picky eating and genuine cases of Selective Eating Disorder, Felix speaks of
how a picky eater will eventually give in to hunger or other stimuli, those
with SED will not, “regardless of bribes, threats, pushing yourself and
willpower.”
One SED/ARFID sufferer who has massively benefitted from
Felix’ guidance and support is Zach Bell, who actually appeared alongside Felix
on Global News to raise awareness of the issue. At one point, Zach’s food
intake was restricted to ‘beige’, an aversion he carried with him since he was
a baby. He is adamant that his condition deserves to be taken more seriously by
both medical professionals and the world at large.
“It’s not picky eating at all. It’s an actual phobia, and it
can actually affect your life,” Zach told Global News.
So, what actually causes SED? According to Felix, the
underlying cause generally falls into one of the following three categories:
‘Food PTSD’ – Felix states that this is the most common
cause of SED, occurring due to an unpleasant experience with a particular food,
such as choking. He says that “the system will get fed up and be like, ‘Ok,
what caused this? Ok, food. I can’t handle that food anymore.’”
Sensory Processing – Often, the texture or feel of a certain
food in the mouth is enough to put some people off for life. “Some textures
might feel too crispy, or too wet, or too fuzzy, or whatever the case may be,”
says Felix. I find this cause to be the most relatable; I personally struggle
to eat some foods such as mushy peas for no reason other than the texture. It
just feels wrong!
Family Dynamics – Children like routine and familiarity.
When this is suddenly compromised, for example by the divorce of parents or by
moving country, they may try to compensate for this by exerting extra control
over the areas of their life which they are able to, such as food. Left
unchecked, this can easily develop into SED.
For a little extra insight into SED/ARFID, you can see Felix
and Zach’s conversation with Global News below:
Sam Bonson
Sam Bonson
Sam is an aspiring novelist with a passion for fantasy and crime thrillers. He is currently working as a content writer, journalist & editor in an attempt to expand his horizons.
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