Food Sensitivities and Food Allergies: How False Perceptions Can Disrupt Nourishment and Exacerbate Eating Disorders 

Thrive • May 10, 2022

By Thrive Waco Registered Dietitians Courtney Anderson M.S., RD, LD, CLC, and Sheridan Faye Glaske, M.S., RDN, LD

The diet industry has put its twist on the topic of food allergies in an effort to leverage yet another misleading strategy for unhealthy weight loss, and subsequently encouraging dangerous elimination diets unsupported by clinical evidence. With this latest tactic by diet culture , more and more individuals are misled and mistakenly believe they are food allergic. Research suggests that nearly 19% of U.S. adults believe they have a food allergy, but only 11% percent of U.S. adults are actually diagnosed with one. While food allergies are real and can be dangerous, the implications of eliminating foods from one’s diet without professional guidance can also be detrimental. For individuals struggling with eating disorders , the fad of food allergies can be especially disruptive to their relationship with food, providing them with a fashionable, yet extremely hazardous, excuse to neglect to nourish their bodies. 

FOOD ALLERGIES: POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING REACTIONS

A food allergy occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks a usually harmless protein found in food. 

The most common food allergies include:

  • Peanuts
  • Tree nuts
  • Wheat
  • Soy
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Fish
  • Shellfish

Symptoms of food allergies include:

  • Hives
  • Itching
  • Swelling
  • Wheezing
  • Dizziness
  • Trouble breathing and swallowing

Food allergies are serious and if symptoms are severe enough, anaphylaxis can occur, which can be life-threatening. 

FOOD SENSITIVITIES: TRENDY, BUT DISRUPTIVE TO NOURISHMENT

As the topic of food allergies has garnered more mainstream attention, the practice of self-diagnosing food sensitivities — a milder food intolerance — has also become popular. While specific foods can in fact cause digestive upset for some, the self-diagnosis of food sensitivities isn’t supported by consistent clinical findings and is not recommended by experts.  

In extreme cases, the false perception of food sensitivities may encourage affected individuals to unnecessarily eliminate a wide variety of foods from their diet. When a person experiencing gastrointestinal issues mistakenly attributes their symptoms to a food sensitivity, they may overlook the underlying causes of their digestive struggles. To make matters worse, their limited dietary intake may begin to negatively affect their well-being.

FOOD ALLERGIES, FOOD SENSITIVITIES, AND EATING DISORDERS

For those struggling with eating disorders, falsely  believing they have food allergies or food sensitivities can be arguably more dangerous than food allergies themselves. 

These uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms include:

  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Bloating
  • Acid reflux
  • Nausea

Attributing their gastrointestinal symptoms to food allergies or sensitivities may provide them with what they believe to be a simpler and perceivably more socially acceptable explanation. However, this is risky for many reasons. Before exploring any food allergies or sensitivities, a person struggling with an eating disorder should undergo dietary assessment, nutritional rehabilitation, and weight restoration guided by an experienced and multidisciplinary treatment team that takes all aspects of well-being into consideration. Most often, once an individual eats a wide variety of foods adequately and consistently for a sustained period, any digestive symptoms diminish and eventually disappear. 

TREATING TRUE FOOD ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVITIES

Using different tests to identify food allergies and their severity, only qualified allergists can accurately diagnose food allergies. Although trendy, at-home tests aren’t effective or accurate ways to identify food allergies and sensitivities.

Treating true food allergies requires individuals to abstain from eating the food to which they’re allergic. However, when this is the case for those with eating disorders, close planning and monitoring by a registered dietitian is necessary to ensure the avoidance doesn’t lead to any nutrient deficiencies. 

It’s important to distinguish between a food allergy and a mild sensitivity. For those with sensitivities to foods such as dairy, dietitians often encourage eating small doses of lactose-containing foods. By treating food sensitivities this way, it’s possible to decrease one’s symptoms, prevent complete intolerance, and avoid any unnecessary elimination of nutrients.

FOOD FREEDOM AT THRIVE

Thrive offers integrated eating disorder treatment as well as outpatient nutritional support that emphasizes adequacy, balance, and choice so that individuals can develop a more peaceful, intuitive, and autonomous relationship with food. Reach out to learn more. 

About the Authors

Thrive Waco Registered Dietitian Courtney Anderson M.S., RD, LD, CLC

Courtney is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Lactation Counselor passionate about helping clients use food as a tool for health and joyful living. Her practice is built around the marriage of medical nutrition therapy with the principles of Intuitive Eating.

She began studying nutrition science because of her fascination with food and the body. In her practice, she hopes to educate and empower others to harness the awesome benefits of the food around them, and to provide them valuable skills to apply nutrition principles in their everyday life.

By marrying her experience of disordered eating with her knowledge of medical nutrition therapy and her skills as an adjunct lecturer at the university level, she has been able to create a holistic approach to health and wellness for clients that focuses on education and practicing new skills that not only improve her clients’ health but also their relationship with food and body.

Thrive Waco Registered Dietitian Sheridan Faye Glaske, M.S., RDN, LD

With both a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology and a master’s degree in nutrition sciences from Baylor University, Sheridan Glaske wears her Baylor Bear pride proudly. Throughout her career in health and wellness, she has served as an exercise physiologist, a lifetime fitness adjunct lecturer at Baylor University, and a certified yoga and barre instructor. She recently completed the 1200-hour Wellness Workdays Dietetic Internship program and has joined Thrive Wellness Waco as a registered dietitian. At Thrive, she offers her experience, expertise, and passion for complete well-being to individuals recovering from eating disorders, disordered eating behaviors, and perinatal mental health concerns.

As a former fad-dieter who valued being thin over being healthy and happy, Sheridan struggled with an undiagnosed eating disorder. Her education and experience have taught her that as a society, disordered eating and exercise habits are normalized while the emotional, psychological, and social aspects of health are neglected.

In a world where diet culture is deceiving and dangerous, it can be difficult to determine who to turn to and which resources to trust. Sheridan finds great fulfillment in supporting others through sharing sound advice and evidence-based practices that challenge the unrealistic ideals of diet culture. She advocates for the Health At Every Size (HAES) movement and promotes that one does not need to be a specific size or weight to be healthy. Sheridan wants her clients to know that they are not alone and to believe deep down that they are worthy of receiving support.

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August 21, 2025
When Emma was 8, her parents noticed her food choices shrinking. At first, they assumed it was just picky eating — “She’ll outgrow it,” friends said. But by 10, Emma would only eat crackers, cheese, and chicken nuggets. Family dinners became nightly struggles, her growth slowed, and she skipped birthday parties to avoid “strange food.” Her parents felt powerless, her brother grew frustrated, and outings dwindled. What began as food avoidance soon reshaped the rhythm of the entire household. When children avoid food, most parents expect it’s a passing stage. But when restriction deepens, shrinks to only a few “safe foods,” and begins affecting growth or health, families suddenly find themselves in unfamiliar territory. This is often where Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) emerges — with effects that extend far beyond the plate. As providers, we need to be attuned to these patterns. It’s tempting to dismiss them as “no big deal,” yet for many families, they are life-altering. Sadly, Emma’s story is not unusual. Mealtimes as Battlegrounds Families living with ARFID often describe mealtimes as emotionally charged, exhausting, and unpredictable. What should be a chance to connect around the table can feel more like a negotiation or even a standoff. Parents wrestle with whether to push their child to try a new food or give in to the same “safe foods” again and again to avoid tears, gagging, or complete meltdowns. This ongoing tension can make mealtimes dreaded rather than cherished. Siblings, too, are affected. Some may feel resentful when family meals are limited to what only one child will tolerate. Others may act out in response to the constant attention the child with ARFID receives. Over time, the dinner table shifts from a place of nourishment and bonding into a stage for conflict, anxiety, and guilt — a pattern that can erode family cohesion and resilience. Social Isolation and Missed Experiences ARFID impacts more than what happens at home; it influences how families engage with the world around them. Everyday events — birthday parties, school lunches, vacations, even extended family dinners — become sources of stress. Parents may pack special foods to avoid confrontation or, in many cases, decline invitations altogether to protect their child from embarrassment or overwhelm. This avoidance can lead to an unintended consequence: isolation. Families miss out on milestones, friendships, and traditions because of the unpredictability surrounding food. The child may feel left out or ashamed, while parents grieve the loss of “normal” family experiences. This social withdrawal can compound the anxiety already present in ARFID and deepen its impact across generations. Emotional Toll on Parents The emotional strain on parents navigating ARFID is significant. Many describe living in a constant state of worry — Will my child get enough nutrients? Will they ever grow out of this? Am I doing something wrong? This worry often spirals into guilt and self-blame, particularly when outside voices dismiss the disorder as mere “picky eating.” In addition, the pressure to “fix” mealtimes can strain marital relationships, creating disagreements over discipline, feeding strategies, or medical decisions. Parents may also feel emotionally depleted, pouring all their energy into managing one child’s needs while inadvertently neglecting themselves or their other children. Without support, this chronic stress can lead to burnout, depression, and disconnection within the family system. The Role of Providers For clinicians, ARFID must be viewed not only as an individual diagnosis but as a family-wide challenge. Effective care requires attention to both the clinical symptoms and the family dynamics that shape recovery. Parent Support: Educating caregivers that ARFID is not their fault, offering psychoeducation, and helping them reframe mealtime struggles as part of the disorder — not a parenting failure. Family-Based Interventions: Coaching families in structured meal support, communication strategies, and gradual exposure work so parents don’t feel powerless. Holistic Care: Involving therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and medical providers ensures that the family does not shoulder the weight of treatment alone. When families are validated, supported, and given practical tools, the entire household can begin to heal. Treatment is not only about expanding a child’s food repertoire but also about restoring peace, resilience, and connection at home. Moving Forward ARFID may begin with one individual, but its ripple effects are felt across the entire family system. By addressing both the psychological and relational dimensions, providers can help transform mealtimes from a source of conflict into an opportunity for healing and connection. For those who want to go deeper, we invite you to join our upcoming training on ARFID , where we will explore practical strategies for supporting both clients and their families.
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As a parent, noticing alarming behaviors around food or routines in your child can raise some important questions. You might be asking yourself, “Is this an eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or something else entirely?” Understanding the signs and differences between these disorders is key to getting your child effective, timely treatment. In this blog, we’ll break down the overlap between OCD and eating disorders, what signs to watch for, and how to get professional help. If you're a parent wondering “Is my child’s eating disorder actually OCD?” or “OCD vs eating disorder in teens,” know that you’re not alone and you’re in the right place to find specialized care for your child. What Is OCD? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where unwanted thoughts (obsessions) cause anxiety, leading to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) intended to ease that anxiety. OCD can be focused on any subject. Common obsessions include contamination, perfectionism, scrupulosity, and harm, but sometimes, the content of obsessions can be focused on food, body image, or weight. What Is an Eating Disorder? Eating disorders , like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) involve disturbed eating behaviors and intense concerns about body weight or shape. These conditions go beyond dieting or “picky eating” and can become life-threatening without professional intervention. The Overlap: Why It Can Be Confusing OCD and eating disorders often share similar symptoms : Ritualistic eating (e.g., needing to eat foods in a certain order or at a certain time) Rigid rules about food (like only eating certain food groups or certain amounts of food) Excessive checking (like weighing food or body or repeated checking of expiration dates or thorough cooking) Avoidance behaviors ( like avoiding carbs, fats, or other food groups or avoiding places or objects that can trigger obsessions) Distress when routines are disrupted (either around mealtimes or exercise routines) So, How Can You Tell the Difference? Use the following chart to compare and contrast symptoms of OCD and eating disorders.
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