![depression and picky eaters.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/ebingo/23tmQXKyfwYWbZ1QzNz8XaWWoDMiniLipDVUVMrRUbqBoS4nKgo5tUDaqHBLtwERSnkiy.png)
<a href='https://www.freepik.com/vectors/depression'>Depression vector created by pch.vector - www.freepik.com</a> and [Inkscape.org](Inkscape.org)


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Children who are picky eaters are more likely to develop anxiety, depression, and ADHD in later years, a study revealed.</p>&mdash; Fact (@Fact) <a href="https://twitter.com/Fact/status/1557848234063986688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This post seems very interesting, I have not seen any data about this in all my studying of depression. I checked the comment section, and many people who think it is true think it is the fault of a few posting memes and adverts.

I will be making this post from the information I find available online. This post feels like it will rely a lot on research results.

What do I think? Well at first thought do not agree with the post. But @fact has been known to prove me wrong, so I have learned not to doubt the strongly. But I still feel this one is wrong but if you stick with me long enough, we will find out.

Hi, my name is Dr Ebingo Kigigha, and I'm an aspiring psychiatrist. I hope to learn more about depression by posting daily about it and gradually building my knowledge around the topic. I want to attempt ot write one thousand words by myself but I want work my way to that ability.

I'd like to remind you that depression is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and signs and symptoms may be hard to detect but are very important to save life as they are prone to suicide.

Some danger signs are when a person starts making statements about death related to themselves and putting things in order for when they die.

If you suspect that you or your friend might be on the verge of suicide, there are usually suicide numbers to call to deal with this issue.

For this post, we will be digging through the internet in search of informoneion about picky eaters and depression.

*****
# Picky eater and Depression

![depression and picky eaters 2.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/ebingo/EoAcf8wdXrCyDACdJgaxFoHWWnZStZ9vDiJ6h9e7KB9gur1ij6MeFqt2Tx5rrATzTHr.png)

[Inkscape.org](Inkscape.org)

Starting my reading from the very first on I could lay my hands on online by [Online Library](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cbl.30084#:~:text=The%20study%2C%20conducted%20by%20researchers,eating%20can%20predict%20future%20anxiety.) It was found that after a research done by ... university, selective eaters were found not only have depression but its typical accompaning condition, anxiety.

This study was a pediatric study and what was found was that symptoms start developing from childhood till adulthood. the more selective subjects were the more depressed they tended to be.

While this seems like a far stretch from just picky eating, you would think a picky eater would just grow up to be a.

In this [research article ](https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/136/3/e582/61269/Psychological-and-Psychosocial-Impairment-in) describes the abstract of the study, the methodology, the results of the study done by duke university.

This study that has been cited over one hundred times had its results added to the Diagnostic and Statistic criteria for mental disorders 5th (latest) edition.

For me that about sums it up. Many people in the comment section came out to doubt this but they were pulling out information straight from the guidebook of psychiatry and psychology.

With this, I could call it a wrap. But its all good, I would like to know more, How are children diagnosed as picky eaters

**So let's check and find out**
First of all, in psychiatry, picky eaters have a sophisticated name "Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)" In ARFID the child is extremely selective, but just how selective is my question...

So apparently in addition to the extreme selection for food, these children lose their appetite at the smell of certain food, do not feel hungry and are afraid of the pain that might come from things like vomiting while eating. Read more [here](https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/arfid.html#:~:text=What%20Is%20ARFID%3F,poor%20growth%20and%20poor%20nutrition.).


# Tips
What could be done for a child that is a picky eater, off the top of my head I'm thinking forcing them to eat could help, but that would be obviously wrong, if it were right it wouldn't be by force.

But let's see what the literature says.

Well, it is managed collectively by doctors, dieticians and therapists.

The doctors prescribe medication for the anxiety and appetite boosters to take medical treatment as far as it should go.

Evaluation for choking and possible causes of painful feeding.

# Questions
- What were your initial thoughts on the topic?
- Do you agree with the DSM criteria, should selective eating be added to the DSM criteria?
- do you have anyone who is a picky eater in your family?

# Hive stories
My Hive story for today is by a close friend of Medic Vibes @selfhelp4trolls. In his [post](https://peakd.com/hive-181017/@selfhelp4trolls/just-try-to-enjoy-the-peculiarity-of-shapes-and-sounds), he takes us through what he calls, 

> little excavations into pockets of reality.

His own methods of mindfulness that has helped him win fights against depression. I particularly love how applicable his tips are at any point of the day or where ever you might be.

He talked about how he starts by monitoring what he is seeing and how many of the structures he has in front of him might have formed. I do that sometimes, it is a beautiful form of mindfulness that I recommend to those reading this post.

I also like to feel the air as it hits my body.

# Conclusion
Anxiety and depression appear to be linked to picky eating, conditions registered in the DSM criteria. This condition is managed by doctors, dietitians and therapists.

Remember that mental health is real, depression is a disabling condition, check on yourself and those you love regularly. Don't let depression get complicated by sleep abnormalities and other conditions.

# Reference
- <a href='https://www.freepik.com/vectors/bad-food'>Bad food vector created by pch.vector - www.freepik.com</a>
- [Publications.app](https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/136/3/e582/61269/Psychological-and-Psychosocial-Impairment-in
)
- [Online Library](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cbl.30084#:~:text=The%20study%2C%20conducted%20by%20researchers,eating%20can%20predict%20future%20anxiety.)

- [Kidshealth.org](https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/arfid.html#:~:text=What%20Is%20ARFID%3F,poor%20growth%20and%20poor%20nutrition.)