Picky Eaters May Have Disorder

These adults are not being 'willful and bratty,' says researcher
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 29, 2010 4:08 PM CST
Updated Dec 4, 2010 7:17 AM CST
Picky Eaters May Have Disorder
A sushi roll made using organic rice is seen at Kru, a contemporary Japanese restaurant in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, June 10, 2010.   (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Not a fan of sushi, brussels sprouts, or any type of bread that's not white? You may not be just a picky eater—you may have an actual disorder, LiveScience reports. Researchers studying finicky adult eaters have identified a condition called "selective eating disorder," and they think people like 63-year-old Bob Krause may suffer from it. "If I could snap my fingers and change, I would," says Krause, who eats little other than peanut butter, crackers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and chocolate milk.

People like Krause avoid restaurants and social events that involve food, because there are so few foods they can eat; he says it contributed to the demise of his two marriages. They "aren't doing this just to be stubborn," says one of the researchers. Based on a survey of 7,500 people, researchers believe these people are suffering from a distinct condition, and have ruled out obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia, bulimia, and the like. They're not yet sure what causes the disorder, and don't know if the behavior can be changed—but they have noticed some similarities among the sufferers, who tend to avoid alcohol and fruit, and often list bacon as the only meat they will eat. Click here for a study that showed picky eating habits may be genetic.
(More eating disorder stories.)

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