What causes avoidance disorder?

This condition is part of eating disorders. Find out what it’s all about from the hand of an expert.

You may not have heard of this disorder before, because Avoidant/restrictive eating disorder is a relatively recent diagnosis in the family of eating disorders.. It was included in the latest version of the DSM and replaced selective eating disorder by including more detailed information.

How is it related to food? Find out.

Next, we are going to tell you a little more about this disorder so that you know and understand it better.
Although this disorder presents characteristics similar to in the sense that both disorders imply limitations in the amount and/or types of foods consumed, in the case of dIn avoidant/restrictive disorder, there are no worried thoughts or emotional responses of discomfort or fear around the shape, size, or weight of the body.

It is important to mention that although children and/or adolescents can often be a little picky when it comes to eating, this is not enough to define the presence of this condition. When this diagnosis occurs, the person does not consume enough food to reach a minimum of calories that allow them to grow and develop properly and carry out basic bodily functions. This, in turn, can lead the person to have difficulties carrying out daily tasks such as working or studying, as well as relating to others.

How is this condition diagnosed?

As it was mentioned already A boy or girl who is selective when it comes to eating does not necessarily have this condition.. In order to diagnose it, the person must be evaluated by a health professional, hopefully a person who is an expert in eating disorders, who will take into account the following criteria to define whether the disorder is present or not:

1. That there is an impact on food or nutritionFor example, a apparent lack of interest in eating or fooda avoidance based on food characteristicsa concern about the unpleasant consequences of eating and that this is seen through the impossibility of meeting the needs that we all have to satisfy in terms of nutrition and energy.
2. Significant weight loss (or failure to achieve expected weight gain or faltering growth in children).
3. Nutritional deficiency significant determined by a professional.
4. Dependence on enteral feeding (through a tube) or oral nutritional supplements.
5. Marked difficulties in social relationships.

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Furthermore, at the time of diagnosis, it is taken into account to evaluate that the situation the person is going through is not due to other conditions such as a physical illness, lack of available food or a cultural practice.

A careful process is also carried out to differentiate this condition from anorexia.

These are some signs that may indicate that this diagnosis is occurring:

• Significant weight loss.
• Gastric problems such as constipation or abdominal pain.
• Intolerance to cold due to caloric deficit.
• Feeling of extreme tiredness.
• Drastic restriction of the types or amount of food eaten.
• Choice of foods due to their textures.
• Fear of choking or vomiting.
• Lack of appetite or interest in food.
• Menstrual irregularities: no menstruation or only having it while taking hormonal contraceptives (this is not considered a “true” menstruation).
• Concentration difficulties.
• Dizziness
• Fainting.
• Sleeping problems.
• Dry Skin.
• Dry and brittle nails.
• Thinning hair on the head, dry and brittle hair.
• Muscular weakness.
• Poor wound healing.
• Problems with the immune system.

If you identify any of these signs in a person close to you, we recommend that you suggest visiting a health professional to evaluate the presence of this or another eating disorder. You can call or write to us at 333 033 35 88, we will provide you with psychological first aid.