Most commonly, the children only develop the system of picking up their preferred foods. They try to ignore or avoid the rest of the food items, irrespective of the characteristics of the food material. Thus, it can be stated that they eat a very limited amount of their preferred food items, likely chocolate, ice cream, cold drinks, fast food, etc. They do not shift towards other eating or, to be precise, healthy eating. Not only children but people, after becoming mature and reaching the stage of adultery, also, at times, follow this technique and end up being a sufferer of poor health conditions, poor nutrition, and poor growth. People here also have very little interest in eating food, and they do not like to consume food and do not even feel hungry or need to eat. This disorder is mainly referred to as the Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, where a person gets very picky about his/her choice of food and suffocates an individual with only limited amounts and types of food.
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder is an eating disorder. People suffering from this disorder have a particular choice of food items and are very picky. Children are the main sufferers of this disorder as they have a vast amount of outlook and likings for their food. With Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, people also have little interest in eating and consuming food items. They develop the practice of eating only a limited variety of their preferred food items, leading to very poor growth and poor nutrition. Thus, the person suffering from Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder gradually becomes weak, and serious health issues occur.
There are no such specific reasons solely responsible for the happenings of Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Doctors do not know what causes Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Rather, it can be noted that people who get the Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder might have extreme sensitivity and affection towards any specific food textures or ant specific food items. There could be enormous reasons for the happenings of Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. One of the causes is past bad experience with the food item or material, which made the person not choose those items and prefer some limited food items or rather not eat at all.
People who are most likely to get Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder include −
People who are on the autism spectrum.
People who have ADHD
Especially children who cannot get out of the habit of picky eating or staying with limited and their preferred food items.
There are certain symptoms of Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder for the people who suffer from it. From various studies, it has been taken into view that some of the physical signs of Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder mostly go with or mostly follow the characteristics of Anorexia. These include −
People with Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder also develop additional symptoms. These are poor and time-taking healing of the wound, swollen feet, cold hands, dry hair, dry skin and nails, frequent dizziness and fading out, heart rate gradually becoming slow, serious issues and troubles with concentrating, high thyroid levels and low iron levels are some of the common symptoms that are observed within a person if the person tends not eating regularly or staying limited to only his/her preferred food items.
Symptoms of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder | Constipation Huge weight loss Stomach pain Poor nutrition Abnormal menstrual periods Lack of appetite |
People suffering from Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder might have psychological and behavioral problems or issues. These are −
With hardly eating tendencies, people become underweight and suffer from poor nutrition and growth. Thus, they feel the need to dress in different and various layers to hide their weight loss. This gradually takes the shape of chronic disease and affects the psychological segment of a person.
People with Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder often face difficulties and challenges while eating with others. They do feel uncomfortable around people and question their selves.
With eating more than their regular basis or routine of eating, people with Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorders often think that if they consume more food than usual, they will vomit or throw themselves up. They are also scared, thinking they will end up choking themselves.
It can be seen that Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder is a severe issue in the case of children, especially as they are deprived of good food, health, and nutrition. Thus, focusing on or enhancing the methods of gaining nutrition and proper health is needed. A person suffering from Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder needs to have a personalized meal as prescribed by the dietitian. Nutritional supplements should be taken for gaining weight and proper health. Cognitive behavioral therapy should be needed to help the sufferers overcome their worries and scaredness. It will also help to develop and generate feelings for healthy food consuming and eating. Prescribed drugs as per by the physician or the dietitian, are needed to help the appetite or anxiety of a person.
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