“Real Housewives of Orange County” star Emily Simpson revealed in a new interview that her 10-year-old son, Luke, has been diagnosed with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).
The condition causes a person to lose interest in eating over anxiety-filled fears of choking, vomiting or a need to avoid unwanted colors, taste, textures or smells of different foods, per the Cleveland Clinic.
Experts note, however, “It isn’t the result of a distorted self-image or an attempt to lose body weight.”
“He only eats a few different foods and he’s very overwhelmed by texture, color, smells. He will only eat white rice,” Simpson, 49, explained to People this week of what Luke’s main symptoms are.
“And he has to inspect each piece of rice before he eats it. So it’s beyond picky eating. A lot of control issues. It’s very overwhelming.”
The Bravo star shared that prior to learning of her son’s condition, he would often say he was “starving” — because he was — but would still “refuse to eat.”
“As a mom, that was so frustrating,” she confessed. “I didn’t know what to do because on one hand he’s crying and telling me he’s starving, and on the other hand, he refuses to eat anything that I offer.”
Simpson recognized that every day is still “challenging” but she tries to put herself in Luke’s “shoes.”
“Smells are extremely overwhelming for him. Color is overwhelming for him. Textures of food are overwhelming and make him gag,” the reality star said, “so I have to constantly remind myself that he doesn’t operate neurologically like we do.”
The Cleveland Clinic notes that treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy and medications like antipsychotic medications, antidepressants or others that stimulate a person’s appetite.
Simpson shared that her son is seeing a therapist and a nutritionist, and wears nose inserts with essential oils on them to mask the smells of overwhelming foods.
He has since made some progress and is now able to eat rice, french fries, sliced bananas, potato chips, ice cream and plain turkey that “doesn’t have any lines or blemishes in it.”
Simpson admitted that dealing with Luke’s struggles made her question whether she should continue filming “RHOC” since part of her son’s health journey will be featured on Season 19 of the show.
“Am I doing the right thing by being so honest about what we’re going through? And all I can hope at the end is that it helps other parents,” she said.
Since opening up, Simpson took to social media to thank her followers for their “support, kindness and love” regarding Luke’s situation.
“This was by far my most difficult season filming RHOC I’ve ever had, and there were multiple times I felt that it was in Luke’s best interest for me to quit,” she reiterated in a post on Instagram Friday.
“My reason for continuing on and navigating this truly challenging time (in real time and on camera) was because I knew I’d get more answers, support and feedback than any therapist or doctor could provide. The Bravo fans are incredible and caring people, and I wasn’t wrong!”
Simpson concluded with a heartfelt tip for fellow parents, “Please talk to your children about being kind to the kids who might be a little different 
”
If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, visit the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) website or call their hotline at (800)-931-2237 to get help.
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