‘Common causes of food phobia are a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors’
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00:00Food phobia, also known as selective eating disorder or avoidant restrictive food intake
00:08disorder.
00:09It is a psychological condition characterized by an intense fear or aversion to certain
00:15food or food groups.
00:18Individuals with food phobia often have an extremely limited range of food preferences
00:23and may restrict their diet to a small number of safe or preferred foods.
00:29Unlike other eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, food phobia is not primarily driven
00:37by body image or weight concerns.
00:40Instead it is typically related to sensory sensitivities, negative past experiences with
00:46food such as choking or vomiting or anxiety surrounding the taste, texture, smell or appearance
00:54of certain foods.
00:56People with food phobia may experience significant distress and impairment in their daily lives.
01:02They may avoid social situations involving food, struggle to find suitable options when
01:09dining out or face challenges in meeting their nutritional needs.
01:14Over time this can lead to nutritional deficiencies, inadequate weight gain or weight loss and
01:22related health complications.
01:25Treatment to food phobia often involves a multidisciplinary approach including cognitive
01:31behavior therapy, which is a therapy where you catch the thought, check it, is it true
01:38and then you change it, exposure therapy and nutritional counseling.
01:43The goal to gradually expand the individual's food repertoire, increase tolerance to new
01:49foods and address any underlining psychological factors contributing to the phobia.
01:57If you or someone you know is struggling with a fear of food or experiencing significant
02:03difficulties relating to eating, it is recommended to seek professional help from a mental health
02:09provider or health care professional specializing in eating disorders.