Selective eating disorder (SED) (also known as fussy eating, picky eating, or perseverative feeding disorder) is an eating disorder that prevents the consumption of certain foods. It is often viewed as a phase of childhood that is generally overcome with age. Children may not grow out of the disorder, however, and may continue to be afflicted with SED throughout their adult lives.[1] Selective eating disorder lacks formal diagnostic criteria and classification[2] and is not currently listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.[3]
The British Journal of Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry states that:
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Sufferers of SED have an inability to eat certain foods based on texture or aroma. "Safe" foods may be limited to certain food types and even specific brands. In some cases, afflicted individuals will exclude whole food groups, such as fruits or vegetables. Sometimes excluded foods can be refused based on color.
The University College London's Institute of Child Health (UK) relates that:
SED is common in young people with autistic spectrum disorders, this is likely caused by Sensory Integration Dysfunction. It is also found with other special needs adolescents. It is commonly accompanied with severe refusal behaviors when non-preferred foods are presented. SED can be caused by an extra sensitive taste sensation caused by more Fungiform papilla than average, this is the most common cause of SED. It is also found in people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. People with the Autoimmune disorder Coeliac Disease are often picky eaters. This disorder should not be confused with food avoidance emotional disorder (FAED) (a childhood avoidance of food brought about by emotional difficulties and not related to body image) or anorexia nervosa (a disorder characterized by a fear of food due to issues related to body weight). SED shares similar characteristics with "food neophobia", an avoidance of the consumption of novel foods.
Dr. Bradley C. Riemann, the clinical director of obsessive compulsive disorders at Rogers Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee, says: "For the most part it's not trauma or memories that are the problem. It's more about taste, texture, smell and sight. It can stem from an incident. Say you've gagged on meat before, you may develop a fear of choking and become scared of eating anything chewy. It has also been linked to OCD and a fear of dirt and contamination over how the food has been prepared."
Resetting patterns of behavior is commonly done using cognitive behavioral therapy. Dr. Riemann explains, “Exposure also works well. Say a person eats only soup; we’ll put noodles in it and then work our way up to chicken.”
Research is currently under way at Rogers Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In 2007, the UK television series Farm of Fussy Eaters was created to "follow the emotional journey of eight people as they confront their food demons at The Farm of Fussy Eaters. The eight participants all have terrible relationships with food but they're determined to conquer their fears with the help of (the program's) three experts."[6] The expert panel consists of a dietician, Geoffrey Beattie (a psychologist), and a chef.
The TV series Freaky Eaters[7] on BBC 3 premiered in 2007 which also deals with SED. It follows the daily eating habits and inherent lifestyle difficulties of several SED sufferers.