How to Recognize Food Anxiety in Your Child

Sometimes, our children refuse to eat. They don’t like the taste or the texture, or they want something else entirely. It’s happened to all of us before, and it will happen again. But after a while, if it happens often enough, this can become worrying. That’s when we start looking for other explanations for why our child isn’t eating.

Unlike other eating disorders, food anxiety has nothing to do with weight. That’s why we have a hard time identifying it. Since weight isn’t an issue, we have to look for different signs. Lucky for us, there are a few signs of food anxiety we can look out for in our children.

Extreme Pickiness

Picky eaters are not uncommon. Plenty of children are picky about the food they want to eat, but usually, it’s not too bad. However, when the picky eating just gets worse over time to the point where they like very few foods, that might be a cause for concern.

It’s possible they might have a strong dislike of some tastes and textures, but it might be something else. They might be afraid of getting an allergic reaction, for example, and as a result, they avoid all foods they don’t consider “safe.” So, if our kids start talking about food in this way, we might need to start asking more questions.

Refuses to Eat

Sometimes our kids will refuse to eat, plain and simple. We can offer them their favorite meal, and they’ll still say no. And we can’t understand why. The more often they do it, the more we worry. And that’s when we try to get answers.

A frequent refusal to eat is not a good sign. Especially if the reason why is a specific fear surrounding food. It can, for example, be a fear of choking on whatever food we give them. That’s definitely something worth keeping an eye on.

They’re Underweight

Naturally, between our children’s pickiness and their refusal to eat, it’s only normal that they start to lose weight. If our child is suddenly underweight or their growth is slower than their peers, it might be because they’re not eating properly.

While this sign can be associated with a number of eating disorders, it’s just as applicable to food anxiety, even without weight being a factor. If we notice our child is underweight after not eating well for a long time, it might be time to think about why.

Show Signs of Anxiety

If our children start showing signs of anxiety, usually revolving around food, it’s high time for us to act. Anxieties around food usually involve fear of choking, allergic reactions, or getting sick from eating certain products. Our children avoid food because they don’t think it’s safe, and as such, they end up hurting themselves.

Anxiety is tough to live with, and children who don’t know how to cope the way we adults do will struggle more. As their parent, it’s our job to help them through this. It’s our job to guide them. And when we can’t, it’s our job to seek professional help.

Treating Food Anxiety

Food anxiety is not easy to treat and is dangerous. If we’re at a point where our child is underweight, we might need more help than just counseling. Still, counseling is essential. After all, our children struggle with anxiety surrounding food. Understandably, we’re worried about our children, and we wonder if this is really what they’re struggling with or something else. As their parent, it’s our responsibility to find them the help they need. Fox Child and Family Therapy knows exactly how to address those issues effectively and will be able to help. Reach out today, 913-229-5691.