Latest news with #ARFID
Qatar Tribune
29-07-2025
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
Sidra Medicine provides 1st full adolescent eating disorders clinic in Qatar
Tribune News Network Doha Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, offers a specialised eating disorders clinic within its Adolescent Medicine programme to support children and young people, aged eight to 17. As the only comprehensive eating disorder programme in Qatar, the clinic plays a vital role in addressing a growing health concern by providing holistic, multidisciplinary care tailored to the complex physical and mental health needs of adolescents. Care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team including paediatricians, psychologists, dietitians, and social workers. The team is trained in gold-standard therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E) and Family-Based Therapy. The clinic provides diagnosis and management for conditions such as Anorexia Nervosa (restrictive and binge-purge types); Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID); and co-occurring mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, trauma, and low self-esteem. Dr. Madeeha Kamal, acting division chief of Adolescent Medicine, General Paediatrics, and Dermatology at Sidra Medicine, said: 'Eating disorders are not simply about food or weight. They are complex mental health conditions with deep emotional and psychological roots. They often go unnoticed, as many young people hide their symptoms. Our clinic is committed to raising awareness and providing specialised care that combines medical, psychological, nutritional, and family support.' A standout feature of the programme is its integration of allied health professionals who play a crucial role in each patient's recovery. Dietitians offer tailored nutritional support to help adolescents, and their families reach treatment goals, while psychologists address underlying issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and body image concerns. Social workers also work closely with families to address relational dynamics that may be contributing to the disorder, reinforcing the importance of trust and support throughout the healing process. The programme also has an inpatient service for adolescents requiring round-the-clock care and therapy. Patient management, for both outpatients and inpatients, is based on the American Academy of Paediatrics guidelines. Dr. Al Hammadi, chair of paediatric Medicine at Sidra Medicine, said: 'At Sidra Medicine, we have witnessed many success stories. One patient, admitted at age 13 with severe malnutrition and a critically low heart rate, made a full recovery through coordinated inpatient care and ongoing outpatient support. 'She went on to graduate with distinction and gained admission at a leading international university. All of us were so proud of her progress and milestones. With more than 90 percent of our patients achieving long-term recovery, this programme demonstrates that with comprehensive treatment and strong family involvement, adolescents can regain their health and lead fulfilling lives.' Dr. Kamal shared some advice and guidance for parents, if they are worried about their children's eating habits, saying: 'Early detection is extremely crucial when it comes to eating disorders. Which is why it is important for us to work together with the family because together we can make a difference in their child's life.' 1. Early detection: Look out for warning signs in your child. • Are they skipping meals or following rigid food rules like eliminating whole food groups (like carbs or fats) or preoccupied with calories, 'clean eating,' or weight? • Have you seen any noticeable weight fluctuations? • Is your child avoiding eating in social situations? nutrition matters: Supports growth, development, and emotional health. • What does a balanced diet look like? • It includes 3 meals and 2-3 snacks daily and daily food intake is composed of key food groups: Fruits & Vegetables; Whole Grains; Proteins; Dairy or Alternatives and Fats: Nuts, seeds, vegetable oils for brain health. 3. Importance of family meals: To foster connection and structure • Incorporate daily family meals into your routine with your child. • Make mealtimes a safe and supportive space. • Family meals are essential in the recovery journey from eating disorders – regular shared meals provide stability, support and connection. Sidra Medicine remains committed to advancing adolescent health through innovation, research, and compassionate care.
Qatar Tribune
29-07-2025
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
Sidra Medicine provides Qatar's first comprehensive adolescent eating disorders clinic
Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, offers a specialised eating disorders clinic within its Adolescent Medicine programme to support children and young people, aged 8 to 17. In a statement outlining this issue, the medical institution highlighted that as the only comprehensive eating disorder programme in Qatar, the clinic plays a vital role in addressing a growing health concern by providing holistic, multidisciplinary care tailored to the complex physical and mental health needs of adolescents. Care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team including pediatricians, psychologists, dietitians, and social workers. The team is trained in gold-standard therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E) and Family-Based Therapy, the statement read. It further added that the clinic provides diagnosis and management for conditions such as Anorexia Nervosa (restrictive and binge-purge types), Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and co-occurring mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, trauma, and low self-esteem. Acting Division Chief of Adolescent Medicine, General Pediatrics, and Dermatology at Sidra Medicine, Dr Madeeha Kamal said: 'Eating disorders are not simply about food or weight. They are complex mental health conditions with deep emotional and psychological roots. They often go unnoticed, as many young people hide their symptoms. Our clinic is committed to raising awareness and providing specialized care that combines medical, psychological, nutritional, and family support.' She went on to explain that a standout feature of the program is its integration of allied health professionals who play a crucial role in each patient's recovery. Dietitians offer tailored nutritional support to help adolescents, and their families reach treatment goals, while psychologists address underlying issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and body image concerns. Social workers, she added, also work closely with families to address relational dynamics that may be contributing to the disorder, reinforcing the importance of trust and support throughout the healing process. Dr Kamal emphasized that the programme also has an inpatient service for adolescents requiring round-the-clock care and therapy. Patient management, for both outpatients and inpatients, is based on the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. In this context, Chair of Pediatric Medicine at Sidra Medicine, Dr Al Hammadi said that Sidra Medicine witnessed many success stories. He affirmed that with more than 90 percent of our patients achieving long-term recovery, this program demonstrates that with comprehensive treatment and strong family involvement, adolescents can regain their health and lead fulfilling lives. Dr Kamal shared some advice and guidance for parents, if they are worried about their children's eating habits, early detection is extremely crucial when it comes to eating disorders. Which is why it is important to work together with the family because this collective work can make a difference in their child's life. Physicians stress the importance of early detection of eating disorders, along with the commitment to balanced and proper nutrition to strengthen growth, health and emotional health. They likewise underscored the importance of family meals to further enhance communication and provide an organized environment.
Daily Mirror
28-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Boy, 9, ate nothing but Shreddies, pancakes, pizza and McDonald's before 'cure'
Arlo Powncenby has had the same three meals a day since he was two years old A lad who had been hooked on Shreddies and McDonald's chicken nuggets for seven years has finally overcome his addiction, thanks to hypnosis. Nine-year-old Arlo Powncenby would stubbornly refuse to try new foods and has been eating the same three meals since he was two. Arlo's daily menu included Shreddies for breakfast, pancakes for lunch and a nine-piece McDonald's chicken nugget box for dinner. His mum Steff, 37, revealed that she used to receive strange looks from other shoppers as she bulk bought dozens of boxes of Shreddies each week. The mother-of-four, from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, said: "It started when he was about two. He's got autism and it was like he just stopped wanting to eat normal food. "Since he was about three he would have the same diet, mainly the same foods. He'd have Shreddies for breakfast, then dried cereal and a pancake for lunch, then dinner was the same branded cheese pizza or McDonald's nuggets. "It's really tricky. When we'd go on holiday we had to make sure we're near a McDonald's and have a cooker in the hotel. He never used to eat out with us so it was tricky. Whenever we saw family and friends I'd have to take food with me. "He just wouldn't eat new foods, he would point-blank refuse. We tried everything. The paediatrician that he was under told us it takes 15 times for the palate to get used to new foods. But he used to smell it, nine times out of ten he wouldn't try it. "He has a huge bowl of Shreddies in the morning and it has to be the actual brand. He's very brand orientated, one time we ran out on holiday and he point blank refused to eat breakfast for two days. "Even with chicken nuggets and chips, he'd know. We couldn't cook them at home. "Then his cheese pizza, they discontinued it. He could tell just by looking at it and smelling it that it wasn't the same one. "Because of the protein in the chicken nuggets that was all the protein he was getting. On average he has McDonald's three times a week and then pizza for the other four." Steff believes Arlo has avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, though he hasn't received an official diagnosis. At his worst, he would devour two boxes of Shreddies and consume more than 27 chicken nuggets weekly. Steff, who shares a home with Arlo's stepfather Stuart, 43, explained: "He's never been officially diagnosed him with ARFID, but the NHS doesn't have the resources to diagnose him. The paediatricians were useless, we didn't even get given the opportunity to see a dietician or anything." In a last-ditch bid to tackle Arlo's eating habits and sleep problems linked to autism, Steff sought help from hypnosis expert David Kilmurry. Following just seven sessions, the eating disorder specialist David succeeded in getting Arlo to try various foods for the first time in seven years. Steff said: "My husband first got in touch with David in March. We found him through the internet, looking for hypnotherapists. Arlo is very intelligent and doesn't like not to be right and better himself. "He was putting so much pressure on himself and we wanted someone to help with that. Then David asked about his diet and that's what he specialises in himself. "Within the first session Arlo had tried new foods, which we didn't think would happen. He's the most incredible man I've ever met. Everyone needs a David in their life. We use his videos to get to sleep at night, too. "Arlo now has fruit, raisins, apples, blackberries, kiwi etc, which is a huge plus for children. He also has vegetables and eats chicken. Last night he had lamb chops for dinner. "Last week he went to Nando's and had the chicken wings. It's been gradual and he came away from the first session trying things. "He has a normal lunch box now. We're still working on the dinner, we give him the spaghetti bolognese." His morning meal stays unchanged, but his midday food now features a croissant, snacks like Doritos or pretzels and fresh fruit. Evening meals consist of poultry, greens, lamb chops and occasionally a Nando's treat. Steff added: "It's just so odd, we're trying to get our head around it. We thought it was not something that we thought would ever happen. This year he's even managed to have a birthday cake for the first time since he was two, a lemon drizzle cake." David said: "It was a true blessing to meet and work with young Arlo and see him develop his fuel intake. I can't be more pleased and inspired by this young hero with his huge breakthroughs. "Originally, maths genius Arlo's mommy and daddy booked him in for awful sleep, stomach issues and anxiety meltdowns. So, often Arlo would be back and forth to the bathroom several times to see if he needed it restless and overthinking throughout the night - and this meant night times were a horror story. "So, with autism we make allowances for certain things, including the way we eat, avoiding certain places - many of our ARFID recovery successes are with children or adults that are neurodivergent, literal thinking can really help in recovery towards 'free eating'. "Arlo's beige, bland and low-value diet was the main factor on why he didn't sleep. Being within the diagnostics for ARFID is dangerous and never a nice thing, going on holidays for the family always had to be self-catering - restaurants were a no-go and having exactly the same food, military, every day at exactly the same time can be quite exhausting and 'prison-like' for the family. "Over the course of the programme, Arlo hasn't just overcome ARFID, he's learned to eat freely and find a huge interest in food. He has also been able to sleep and, not just that, he's come fully off the melatonin - which was giving him awful bladder issues and has some concerning side effects."
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RHOC's Emily Simpson Gives Update on Son Luke's Eating Disorder
revealed a worrying issue regarding her son Luke during the Season 19 premiere. At the time of filming, the 10-year-old was newly diagnosed with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, or ARFID. Emily was understandably distraught. But now, armed with knowledge and the help of specialists, the RHOC star is getting a handle on how to manage Luke's diagnosis. She's been met with tremendous support from fans and the online community as well. How RHOC star Emily Simpson's son Luke is managing his food issues 'Luke is doing much better than when we were filming,' Emily exclusively told E! News. 'That was a huge stress for him and also he's not in school, which was another big stress for him.' She continued, 'He has some ADHD and OCD. He has a very severe separation anxiety when it comes to me and we've worked really hard to alleviate that. He's much more comfortable with me going leaving and coming home now.' The RHOC veteran, and husband Shane Simpson, learned to avoid pressuring their son to eat more, on the advice of specialists. Right now, Luke will 'only eat three to four different things.' 'Before I understood the disorder and what was actually happening in his brain, we would get frustrated with him that he wouldn't try different foods,' Emily explained. 'I made a lot of mistakes along the way. Now we know that he has safe foods and we always have those in the house. We don't give him any grief about eating those safe foods that he's comfortable with and we try to introduce, every once in a while, something new.' 'We sent him to a specialist and we try to get as many answers as we can in regards to that. He does a lot of testing. There are many more conversations,' Emily concluded. Catch Real Housewives of Orange County Thursdays at 9/8c on Bravo. It streams on Hayu in the UK and Ireland. TELL US – WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO EMILY'S UPDATE? The post RHOC's Emily Simpson Gives Update on Son Luke's Eating Disorder appeared first on Reality Tea.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RHOC's Emily Simpson Responds to Critics Who Blame Her for Son's Eating Disorder
has had her share of hateful comments online. But trolls hit a new low when they suggested that the star's weight loss journey played a role in her son's eating disorder. In recent years, Emily adhered to a fitness regime and surgery that resulted in noticeable weight loss. During the RHOC Season 19 premiere, Emily revealed that her ten-year-old son Luke was diagnosed with ARFID, or avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. Since then, she and husband Shane Simpson have been on a journey to figure out what's best for their son. And hurtful comments have no place in the plan. Emily Simpson explains why son's eating disorder is different to body image issues 'I have to say, I've had some people say negative things about the eating disorder, and they'll make a correlation between me having surgery or me losing weight,' Emily exclusively told Us Weekly. 'This has nothing to do with a child wanting to lose weight or having a body image. This is a neurodivergent disorder that has to do with his brain and how he operates.' She further clarified that Luke's diagnosis 'has nothing to do with me and losing weight or gaining weight.' There are aspects of ARFID that are less clear currently. Emily admitted that she is still looking for answers. 'We definitely know that he has ARFID. The ARFID has a lot of symptoms that overlap with autism,' she explained. 'We did take him to a specialist to be tested. He did some very extensive testing that comes up later in the season. I'm still not really clear on a lot of things.' Thankfully, the RHOC star has gotten more online support than anything. Emily is part of several parental support groups of children with ARFID. Catch The Real Housewives of Orange County Thursdays at 9/8c on Bravo. It streams on Hayu in the UK and Ireland. TELL US – WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE TROLLING? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF EMILY'S RESPONSE? The post RHOC's Emily Simpson Responds to Critics Who Blame Her for Son's Eating Disorder appeared first on Reality Tea.
