Fussy eaters may actually have disorder linked to brain structure, study finds

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Some symptoms associated with Arfid may include an individual struggling to identify when they are hungry, consistently eating the same meals, having low dietary diversity, anxiety during mealtimes, or needing supplements to meet nutritional needs.” open image in gallery Arfid can sometimes be downplayed as just a phase She said previous studies have shown Arfid exhibits similar “adverse physiological effects” to restrictive eating disorders such as anorexia but that it is regarded as far less dangerous. “Our findings demonstrate that children presenting with symptoms of Arfid showed significantly greater cortical thickness in certain areas of the brain compared to those without Arfid symptoms, specifically in the frontal and superior frontal regions. “These brain regions are associated with executive function and are particularly important for anticipation of conflict and inhibition control.” She added that she hoped the study, called Far From Fussy Eaters, would help researchers and clinicians better understand the condition, and “inform on approaches for Arfid treatment, management and support”. “Although the condition can develop at any age, some children experiencing the disorder may not enter puberty because they aren’t able to eat a wide enough range of foods to meet their nutritional needs.” He said more research into the condition was needed to “fully understand how best to treat and ultimately prevent Arfid and other eating disorders.” The study was was undertaken by an international team of scientists from the Netherlands, Australia, the US and the UK, led by the University of Aberdeen.