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Food aversion is an intense dislike of a particular food. People may experience this emotion with foods they have never tried or would normally consume.
Sometimes, people have had a food aversion for so long, they may not remember when it started. Often, though, a sudden repulsion develops with certain foods. A variety of factors could drive this change in taste.
Sudden disgust or fear of food can develop from hormonal changes, emotional disturbances, or illness.1 Food aversion is not always an eating disorder, so understanding its potential causes is essential for management and recovery.
Pregnant people may discover that certain foods they normally enjoy are suddenly making them feel sick (almost like the opposite of food cravings). This could be due to the activation of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15). Levels of this stress-regulated hormone rise more than tenfold during the first trimester and continue to rise more slowly throughout pregnancy.2
Research suggests that high GDF-15 concentrations correlate with nausea and vomiting. This may be due to the hormone’s protective potential against toxic environmental agents.2
Food allergies can discourage the consumption of foods known to cause an adverse reaction. Allergies manifest at any stage of life with mild to severe symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and inflammatory skin conditions.
Common food allergens include:
In a 2021 study in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, people with multiple triggers were at a higher risk of developing food and taste aversions.3
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that often co-occurs with gastrointestinal issues and restrictive eating behaviors. These issues may start in childhood and persist throughout puberty and adulthood.
Eating behaviors such as food aversion might result from a combination of patterns associated with ASD, including restricted interests and sensory sensitivities regarding food.4
People with a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder often seek to restrict or eliminate foods thought to intensify GI symptoms. These individuals may also have more severe symptoms of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).
A 2021 article in the International Journal of Eating Disorders reported that groups with a GI disorder and ARFID may experience an indifference to eating, and overall disgust sensitivity that can cause greater food aversion.6
Anhedonia, a reduced ability to experience pleasure, is a key symptom of depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. It may develop from dysfunctions in the reward system. Even short episodes of psychosocial stress, such as with grief or trauma, can induce anhedonia symptoms.
A 2022 study in Foods found that people with mental health conditions tend to have sensory food aversion, which means they focus on their food’s sensory characteristics, such as memories, novelty, eating with others, and ethical considerations.5
Changing food preferences is a normal human experience. However, when “picky eating” negatively impacts physical or emotional well-being, it might be time to dig deeper into its triggers.
Since food aversion has varied causes, interventions, and their intensities will be different for everyone. Education and support about this condition can help ensure safe treatment and empowerment for cultivating a more positive connection with food.
The journey of recovery might involve:
Disclaimer about "overeating": Within Health hesitatingly uses the word "overeating" because it is the term currently associated with this condition in society, however, we believe it inherently overlooks the various psychological aspects of this condition which are often interconnected with internalized diet culture, and a restrictive mindset about food. For the remainder of this piece, we will therefore be putting "overeating" in quotations to recognize that the diagnosis itself pathologizes behavior that is potentially hardwired and adaptive to a restrictive mindset.
Disclaimer about weight loss drugs: Within does not endorse the use of any weight loss drug or behavior and seeks to provide education on the insidious nature of diet culture. We understand the complex nature of disordered eating and eating disorders and strongly encourage anyone engaging in these behaviors to reach out for help as soon as possible. No statement should be taken as healthcare advice. All healthcare decisions should be made with your individual healthcare provider.
Food aversion is a strong repulsion to certain foods. The smell, taste, texture, sight, or mention of particular foods may trigger nausea, disgust, or anxiety in a person with this condition.
In some cases, people may just think those with food aversion have extreme picky eating habits, but it may be a deeper mental health issue that needs to be addressed.
In individuals prone to experiencing food aversion, the condition often develops in the first trimester due to hormonal changes. However, aversions can begin at any point during pregnancy.
Food aversions can go away as suddenly and mysteriously as they develop. Time and, if needed, treatment may help alleviate difficulty with eating aversive foods.
