Selective Eating Disorder - Causes

Causes

The determination of the cause of SED has been difficult due to the lack of diagnostic criteria and concrete definition. However, many have proposed likely causes for SED.

SED and Autism
Symptoms of SED are usually found with symptoms of other disorders. Some form of feeding disorder is found in 80% of children that also have a developmental handicap.'Children often exhibit symptoms of Obsessive-compulsive disorder and Autism. Although many suffers of SED have symptoms of these disorders, they usually do not qualify for a full diagnosis. Strict behavior patterns and difficulty adjusting to new things are common symptoms in patients that suffer from some degree of autism spectrum disorder. A study done by Schreck at Pennsylvania State University compared the eating habits of children with ASD and typically developing children. After analyzing their eating patterns they suggested that the children with some degree of ASD have a higher degree of selective eating. These children were found to have similar patterns of selective eating and favored more energy dense foods such as nuts and whole grains. Eating a diet of energy dense foods could put these children at a greater risk for health problems such as obesity and other chronic diseases due to the high fat and low fiber content of energy dense foods. Due to the tie to ASD, children are less likely to outgrow their selective eating behaviors and most likely should meet with a clinician to address their eating issues.

SED as an anxiety disorder
Specific food avoidances could be caused by food phobias that cause great anxiety when a person is presented with new or feared foods. Most eating disorders are related to a fear of gaining weight. Those who suffer from SED do not have this fear, but the psychological symptoms and anxiety created is similar.