Is My Picky Eating a Mental Health Disorder? [Quiz]

Do you consider yourself to be a picky eater? What often seems like a personality trait in both children and adults can allude to more than you’d assume. Being someone who is selective with your diet doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re picky. The preference to consume certain foods over others is common, and usually not an indication of any mental disorder concerning food.

Are You a Picky Eater?

Are you concerned that your picky eating might be more than asking for sauce on the side? Take our quiz to find out if there’s a possibility your eating habits may be indicating an underlying disorder.

Understanding Picky Eating

The distinction occurs a little bit differently in children and adults, though the complication most often occurs during childhood and later translates into adulthood. Occurrences during childhood that may contribute to an eating disorder are:

• having had to be too fed by a G-tube
• NG-tube, surgery or trauma concerning the mouth
• violent episodes of vomiting
• A tendency to choke or gag while eating
• Acid reflux
• Being force-fed

These incidents can contribute to the development of Selective Eating Disorder (SED) or Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). The physical and psychological symptoms may vary but are essential to know as they pose a severe threat to health over time. While symptoms are similar, these are separate from anybody’s image or dysmorphic disorder.