Eating disorders

What are eating disorders, who can get this and can you recover from it?

Eating disorders are a large field and can, among other things, be linked to overeating and obesity, avoidance of food to achieve a particular appearance (anorexia, bulimia), avoidance of food without this being linked to the desire for a particular appearance (ARFID).

In this course, I will talk about eating difficulties that are not related to appearance, but difficulties that can be understood based on, among other things, traumatic experiences, a sensory apparatus that is “on high alert”. ARFID stands for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. It was recognized as a diagnosis in 2013 and included as a diagnostic criterion in the ICD-11 in 2022. The disorder often begins at an early age, and parents typically become aware of the challenges during the transition from liquid to solid foods and when the children reach the age where “they should eat like the rest of the family.” In Norwegian, ARFID is often referred to as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, though there is no complete agreement on whether this should be classified as an eating disorder or a food intake disorder. To be safe, one likes to just say ARFID. ARFID is more than general pickiness, and you cannot approach this problem with the usual advice, such as tasting several times and being a good role model. The characteristics of ARFID can be sensory hypersensitivity, little interest in food and meals, fear of what happens when you eat. The child often accepts to eat only one type of food and food from a particular brand. If a similar product is offered, for example with a different type of consistency or colour, the child will not agree to eat it. Most often, “brown food”, biscuits, macaroni, white bread, are foods that the child agrees to eat, but this can change. Malnutrition, deficiencies in vitamins and minerals can be of great concern to parents and those closest to them, and eating behavior can have consequences for family life, social life and general functioning and health. It is important to raise and promote knowledge about the diagnosis so that the children and families get the help they need. In some cases the children must be referred to the specialist health service, but in many cases the children and their families can also get good help as long as they are understood and given the right diagnosis. It is important that the children are examined for any other conditions such as anxiety, autism, mechanical conditions in the mouth-stomach-intestine. There should always be an interdisciplinary approach to the problem. Furthermore, early diagnosis and help are important, so that adapted measures can be implemented. Nutritional deficiencies can have serious consequences for the child in addition to social consequences in kindergarten, school and other arenas. It is also a great strain on parents and those closest to them as they can often feel misunderstood and very alone in the challenges. Treatment must be adapted to each individual child. Exposure therapy and cognitive therapy can be elements of the treatment.

The course is intended as information both for parents and relatives of children with pronounced pickiness and little appetite. The course is also suitable for educators and health personnel who are in contact with children and young people and who lack knowledge of the subject. I am a certified course leader in “Food and such for parents” and have completed a course of study under the auspices of the Council for Mental Health.