A BOY who ate only Heinz Peppa Pig pasta shapes for 12 years has finally had a proper meal — thanks to hypnosis.
Curtis Maxwell, 14, who used to polish off five cans a day, gagged if made to eat anything other than the tomato-sauce coated novelty food.
Mum Kylie decided to seek help after a friend’s parents looked at her as if she was mad when she sent him to tea with two tins.
She contacted David Kilmurry, a specialist in obsessive eating conditions.
He diagnosed ARFID — avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.
It can make sufferers oversensitive to the taste, texture, smell, look and even temperature of certain foods.
After four two-hour sessions, Curtis is willing to try ten things including passion fruit, mango, balti mix, sugar snap peas, blood oranges and peanuts.
A favourite meal now is a six-inch turkey sub.
Cleaner Kylie, from Rugby, Warks, said: “His obsession with Peppa Pig pasta began as soon as we started weaning him. He wouldn’t eat anything else. Fruit and vegetables were a definite no go.
“He’d scream or moan if I put anything other than pasta shapes in front of him. He had tests done in hospital because he couldn’t stop vomiting — ultrasounds, blood tests — but they couldn’t see anything wrong.
“They said it could be his restrictive diet causing him to be sick.
“I knew we had to do something to break this cycle because it’s difficult for him to be able to go out and socialise.
“His friends will pick up chips and pizza and he just can’t eat that.”;
Single mum Kylie, who spends more than £100 a month on Peppa Pig shapes, added: “I think the therapy is opening up his pallet.”;
Hypnotherapist David said: “I’ve absolute faith that he is fully recovered from the food phobia.”;
What is avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder?
Avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a condition characterised by the person avoiding certain foods or types of food, having restricted intake in terms of overall amount eaten, or both.
They may have had a distressing experience with food, such as choking or vomiting, or experiencing significant abdominal pain.
This can cause the person to develop feelings of fear and anxiety around food or eating, and lead to them to avoiding certain foods or textures.
Some people may experience more general worries about the consequences of eating that they find hard to put into words, and restrict their intake to what they regard as ‘safe’ foods.
Significant levels of fear or worry can lead to avoidance based on concern about the consequences of eating.
Source: Beat eating disorder charity
