At Uniquely Created U, we understand first-hand the complexity of Selective Eating disorders (SED) especially within the neurodiverse. Both UCU co-founders have a lived experience of being neurodiverse. Dr Nicholas Peat has Asperger’s Syndrome and Vanessa Peat has dyslexia, dyspraxia and visual stress.
SED sometimes also referred to as Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder or ARFID is a condition that still goes largely unrecognised even by medical professionals. SED sufferers are often dismissed or mislabelled as ‘fussy’ or ‘picky’ eaters. At UCU, we recognise the key difference: while fussy eaters choose not to eat certain foods, SED sufferers feel they do not have a choice.
SED in one aspect can loosely be described as a food phobia. Unlike other eating disorders, SED sufferers are not limiting or making bad food choices of what they eat because of weight, they may be omitting or limiting foods because they feel that they are ‘unsafe” or are sensitive to the texture or appearance. This sensitivity may also trigger a physical response in sufferers.
SED may also manifest in a particular attraction to certain food groups. Suffers may be more prone to choosing ultra-processed foods and binge eating to trigger a chemical response.
SED sufferers can be at risk of serious health problems due to not getting the correct nutrients. This condition can also have detrimental effects on a sufferer’s mental health causing them distress, anxiety or even leading to depression.
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