How to spot the difference between a picky eater and an eating disorder
Although it’s common for children to be picky eaters, parents shouldn’t always dismiss fussiness as just a stage of childhood.
That’s because some children’s picky food choices stem from the recognised eating disorder ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder), which can impact a child’s physical and mental health, and needs urgent treatment before too much damage is done.
The condition, in which children (and adults) avoid certain kinds of foods, eat a limited amount of food, or both, is being highlighted for this year’s Eating Disorders Awareness Week (February 26 to March 3), with the eating disorders charity Beat pointing out that
