When Picky Eating Becomes a Bigger Problem

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Growing up, I remember my mom had a friend who would not eat anything green. She had tried, but it was almost like she couldn't force herself to take a bite of something if it was green. When we talk about picky eaters, the first thought that usually comes to mind is a child who won't try anything new. But many adults who have been labeled as "picky" aren't being particular by choice; some have diets that are so limited it interferes with relationships and has a significant impact on their lives.

Up to this point, doctors have been unsure how to classify picky eaters because they don't fit the traditional definition of an eating disorder. Most of these people don't limit their diets because they are trying to lose weight, but their behaviors are still considered a type of disorder. Researchers from Duke University and the University of Pittsburgh recently launched the first national public registry of healthy eating. According to the researchers, "It will allow people to log in and report on their unusual eating preferences and habits. Doctors hope the effort will spur the development of improved treatment techniques for adult picky eaters."

For these folks, picky eating doesn't just mean they don't eat green foods or won't eat any seafood (like me.) Many of them only have a small handful of foods they eat regularly, which can lead to serious nutritional deficiencies and health problems. Since their food choices aren't motivated by weight loss, what causes some people to be so selective with their food choices? Doctors theorize that many picky eaters are more sensitive to texture and smell than the average person.

"A taskforce studying how to categorize eating disorders for the new version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, due out in 2013, is considering recognizing for the first time a disorder to be called "selective eating" that could apply to adults as well as children."

Although most of us would not fall into a category of picky eating that is this severe, a lot of people have strong preferences about foods that can make it difficult to make dietary changes. If you're someone who has never liked fruits and vegetables, for example, learning to incorporate these foods into your daily diet can be a challenge. It can also be a challenge for your family and friends. I have some relatives who are very picky and cooking for them or choosing a restaurant that all of us can enjoy is a huge headache.

Are you a picky eater? Is it something you're trying to change, or have you just learned to adapt? Does it affect your family or friends?