Boy Loses Eye-Sight After Eating Junk Food Due To ARFID: Know What It Means

Ever wondered what excessive junk food consumption can do to your child? I asked the question to some parents, and the majority of them mentioned obesity and related health issues like poor nutrition, diabetes & thyroid as the main concerns. However, there's another surprising consequence of eating junk food that made it to the list – permanent loss of vision. Read to know.

A 12-year-old boy from America has permanently lost his eyesight owing to his special diet which only included junk foods like burgers, donuts, packaged juices, french fries, and not to forget, pretzels. 

The big question is, “Why was the child allowed to eat so much junk?”

The 12-year-old suffers from autism and ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), which means that he’s extremely phobic to certain food textures. Owing to his condition, the child ate nothing but fast food.  

The child gradually developed eye problems and complained of symptoms like darkening of vision especially in the early morning. His condition aggravated in just 6 weeks and he became dependent on his parents for moving around. One night, he woke up screaming he couldn’t see anything. The boy was taken to the hospital however, there was nothing that could be done. Doctors revealed that the boy's extreme diet had led to severe nutritional deficiency, which eventually affected his optical nerves and led to vision loss. 

ARFID & Anorexia

ARFID may be mistaken for Anorexia, a common food disorder characterized by severe caloric restriction owing to the fear of gaining more weight or in an attempt to lose weight. ARFID has nothing to do with the body image of the child. It’s just like picky eating, only much more severe. The limited food, and often unhealthy food preferences can lead to nutritional deficiencies and poor growth. 

Signs Of ARFID in Children

Children with ARFID may present with varied symptoms which are broadly classified under three categories. 

• Some children may be very selective about their food and would strictly avoid certain textures, smells, and colours. Simply seeing such food might trigger a negative reaction like nausea. 

• Some children have a very reduced appetite and even deny feeling hungry. Unlike typical selective eating, this involves more severe food avoidance.

• Some children develop a fear that something bad might happen if they eat, such as choking or throwing up. 

Complications In Children With ARFID 

ARFID can lead to nutritional deficiency in children. Such children often become dependent on nutritional supplements or need a feeding tube. In the long run, this can lead to other metabolic and hormonal problems, such as:

• Extremely low weight

• Diarrhoea 

• Constipation 

• Fatigue

• Dizziness

• Fainting

• Attention deficiency 

• Muscle weakness

• Bone weakness

• Delayed puberty

• Poor growth

• Dehydration 

• Slow pulse

If your child is presenting with any related symptoms, consult a paediatrician. Early diagnosis and management with therapies can help children with ARFID lead healthier lives.