How Are Energy Drinks Ruining Your Kids Kidneys? Know The Horrific Side Effects
Energy drinks have large amounts of caffeine, much higher than a standard cup of coffee Youngsters—c...
Read More
Doctors discovered the boy's diet had left him severely deficient in nutrients that are used to keep optical nerves healthy
A 12-year-old American boy has permanently lost his vision due to his junk food-only diet, which included fries, pretzels, burgers, donuts, and packaged juices. According to doctors from Massachusetts, the child, who has autism and an extreme phobia of certain food textures, did not eat anything apart from fast food.
However, he began having eye problems, with symptoms like darkening vision, especially in the morning hours. Within six weeks, the boy could not even walk without leaning on his parents and frequently ran into doors and walls. One night, after he woke up screaming that he couldn't see, his parents took him to the emergency ward.
After extensive tests, the doctors discovered that his diet had left him severely deficient in nutrients that are used to keep the optical nerves healthy. However, despite giving him supplements and feeding therapy, experts, who published the case in a medical journal, are fearing that the boy’s vision loss may be permanent.
Diagnosed with a restrictive food disorder
According to his doctors, the boy was diagnosed with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, or ARFID—a condition that limits your food intake.
While it is not a result of a distorted self-image or an attempt to lose body weight like other common eating disorders, ARFID can cause severe nutritional deficiencies.
Is ARFID the same as picky eating?
No, according to experts, ARFID is not the same as picky eating, as most children may be and may avoid certain foods because they do not like the look, taste, smell, or texture.
Picky eating usually only targets a few foods and does not affect your child’s appetite or their growth and development, and the habits usually go away as your child grows. ARFID, on the other hand, can cause complications that affect your appetite and overall health due to a lack of adequate nutrition and does not go away without a proper treatment plan.
Signs and symptoms of ARFID
A few common signs and symptoms of ARFID include:
- Significant weight loss
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Stomachache, cramps, and upset stomach
- Low body temperature
- Lethargy
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Fainting or dizziness
- Fine hair on your body
- Muscle weakness
- Feeling full before meals or having no appetite
- Difficulty paying attention and other behavioural changes
- Limiting how much food you eat
- Only eating foods with certain textures
- Fear of what could happen after eating, like vomiting or choking
- Picky eating gets worse and limits the range of foods able to be eaten
Complications caused by ARFID
Complications caused by avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) include:
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
- Anemia
- Low blood pressure
- Osteoporosis and bone pain
- Cardiac arrest
- Delayed puberty in children
- Changes to your physical growth.
ARFID can also affect how you socialize. You may avoid seeing loved ones or participating in activities that are in the presence of food (family meals, dinner parties, etc.). This can affect your relati and can even distract you from work or school responsibilities.
Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Health and around the world.
Our Blog
Read Our Latest Blog
Meningitis Cases Surge In Kochi: 2 Kids Infected, 3 Show Symptoms — Is Your Child At Risk?
Meningitis Cases Surge In Kochi: 2 Kids Infected, 3 Show Symptoms — Is Your Child At Risk? (Image Cr...
Read More