Text Link

Learn more about the results we get at Within

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Learn more about the results we get at Within

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Overcoming food aversion

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.

4
 minute read
Last updated on 
January 22, 2024
Food aversion
In this article

What can cause a sudden aversion to food?

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.

Pregnancy

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

It's common for pregnant people to develop temporary food aversions.

Food allergies

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:

  • Dairy products
  • Eggs
  • Legumes
  • Soy
  • Sweet potato
  • Tree nuts
  • Grains

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

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

Gastrointestinal issues

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

Mental health conditions

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

Man hiking looking into the distance

Steps to overcoming food aversions

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:

  • Trying new foods
  • Eating new meals with family and friends
  • Speaking with a nutritionist or family doctor about your aversion
  • Seeking out treatment options if the aversion becomes disordered eating
Find freedom at Within

Within offers a dedicated, understanding team of experts ready to help you overcome your food aversion concerns. Our professionals build your treatment program based on your needs, preferences, and condition. We also work with your insurance to help maximize your access to our full range of services.

Let us help you restore your appetite for what you love. Get help for disordered eating at Within today.

Get a free consultation

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.

Resources

  1. Simonazzi, C., Natali, L., Valmaggia, L., Rowlands, K., Meregalli, V., Rabarbari, E., De Luca Comandini, A., Favaro, A., Fontana, F., Treasure, J., & Cardi, V. (2023). Food-related aversion in a female sample of people with anorexia nervosa: Cognitive-behavioural correlates, somatic and subjective anxiety, and early experiences. Appetite, 180, 106366. 
  2. Lockhart, S. M., Saudek, V., & O’Rahilly, S. (2020). GDF15: A hormone conveying somatic distress to the brain. Endocrine Reviews, 41(4). 
  3. Su, K. W., Patil, S. U., Stockbridge, J. L., Martin, V. M., Virkud, Y. V., Huang, J. L., Shreffler, W. G., & Yuan, Q. (2020). Food aversion and poor weight gain in food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome: A retrospective study. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 145(5), 1430–1437. 
  4. Schröder, S. S., Danner, U. N., Spek, A. A., & van Elburg, A. A. (2022). Problematic eating behaviours of autistic women—a scoping review. European Eating Disorders Review, 30(5), 510–537. 
  5. Hyldelund, N. B., Byrne, D. V., Chan, R. C., & Andersen, B. V. (2022). The relationship between social anhedonia and perceived pleasure from food—an exploratory investigation on a consumer segment with depression and anxiety. Foods, 11(22), 3659. 
  6. Nicholas, J. K., Tilburg, M. A., Pilato, I., Erwin, S., Rivera‐Cancel, A. M., Ives, L., Marcus, M. D., & Zucker, N. L. (2021). The diagnosis of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder in the presence of gastrointestinal disorders: Opportunities to define shared mechanisms of symptom expression. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 54(6), 995–1008. 

FAQs

What is food aversion?

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.

When do food aversions start in pregnancy?

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.

When do food aversions go away?

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. 

Further reading

Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail: A pioneer in public health and Indigenous medicine

A career in healthcare often involves dressing wounds, dispensing medication, and administering other types...

Overcoming emotional eating: Practical strategies for finding balance

Taking care of your basic needs, like eating, is still important, even when you're going through intense...

Dr. Susan La Flesche: The First Peoples’ first physician

On the long arc of history, there is always a “first person” to achieve great accomplishments. However, few...

Medication for eating disorders

Eating disorders are highly complex conditions, often developed from a combination of biological, mental...

Binge eating recovery

Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States, characterized by...

ARFID treatment at home

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a common eating disorder, though not widely understood...

How to treat eating disorders at home

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that affect millions of people around the world. In...

Bulimia treatment at home

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating and purging, with these...

Anorexia home treatment

Treating anorexia nervosa (AN) is often a tricky prospect. While weight restoration and recovery from this...

Eating disorder support groups: Finding healing in community

Eating disorders like binge eating disorder (BED), anorexia nervosa (AN), and bulimia nervosa (BN), can be...

Comparing the different levels of care in eating disorder treatment

While all eating disorders are serious mental health conditions, eating disorder symptoms may present at...

Bulimia self-help recovery

Like other eating disorders, bulimia nervosa (BN) has the power to significantly affect a person’s life and...

10 ways to be gentle with yourself during eating disorder recovery

Eating disorder behaviors are often characterized by profound shame, guilt, and isolation. Eating disorder...

Overcoming food aversion

Food aversion is an intense dislike of a particular food. People may experience this emotion with foods...

How to choose the best eating disorder treatment program for your needs

When it comes to choosing an eating disorder treatment program, people’s specific needs may vary. A program...

Practicing mindfulness and mindful eating

The practice of mindfulness originated through Buddhist meditation, but its introduction into Western...

The health benefits of pet ownership

Coming home to a fur baby or animal companion can feel like coming home to unconditional love. And the...

How chanting helps with meaningful living

Chanting is a type of meditation that has been part of human behavior for thousands of years, practiced by...

Meditation and eating disorder recovery

Practicing meditation can help with internal healing by offering the opportunity to bring mind, body, and...

How yoga can improve mental health & help with eating disorder recovery

Practiced for thousands of years, yoga has long been heralded for its potential to improve mental, physical...

Eating disorder recovery and meaningful living

Eating disorder recovery is an incredibly personal and vulnerable journey, and everyone’s process may look...

The importance of intersectionality in eating disorder treatment and research

Eating disorders affect people of all genders, sexual orientations, races, cultures, weights, sizes, and...

Therapy for eating disorders

Overcoming an eating disorder can be a long and challenging journey. But there are many types of therapy...

Learn about eating disorder treatment

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can impact all aspects of someone's physical...

Aftercare for eating disorders

When you approach the end of your residential or partial hospital program...

How to find a therapist for eating disorders

Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED) are...

Helpful interventions for eating disorders

If you suspect your loved one is suffering from an eating disorder, it can...

Trauma-informed care for eating disorders

There is a strong link between eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa...

Benefits of group therapy for eating disorders

Group therapy, sometimes called group psychotherapy, is not a specific type of therapy but rather a term to...

What to look for in a quality eating disorder treatment program

With so many eating disorder treatment programs available today, both...

Exercise addiction treatment & recovery

Exercise addiction is an eating disorder that can do serious damage to the body, with up...

Night eating syndrome treatment

Night eating syndrome (NES) may not be as well-known as other eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and...

Treatment of pregorexia, pregnancy-related eating disorders

Pregnancy-related eating disorders, also called pregorexia, encompass any eating disorders...

Orthorexia treatment plan

Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is a serious eating disorder that can be very tricky to detect, as...

Diabulimia treatment & recovery

Diabulimia is a complex eating disorder that involves the deliberate underuse or restriction of insulin in...

Anorexia nervosa treatment therapy options with proven results

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious mental health condition that manifests in a number of physical, mental...

Bulimia treatment therapy plans with proven results

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a dangerous and potentially deadly disorder, affecting someone’s mental, physical...

How to find a binge eating disorder treatment plan

Treatment plans for binge eating disorder (BED)—or other eating disorders and mental health conditions—are...

ARFID treatment: avoidant restrictive food intake disorder

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder that involves a severely limited...

Self-help and eating disorder treatment

The role of professional help in eating disorder recovery should not be discounted. Disordered eating...

Partial hospitalization programs for eating disorders

Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are highly-structured day therapy programs that can be used for...

Intensive outpatient treatment for eating disorders

While all eating disorders are serious mental health conditions, symptoms span a spectrum of severity. To...

Inpatient care for eating disorders

Mental health conditions of all types, including eating disorders, occur on a spectrum of severity...

The essentials of exercise bulimia recovery

Exercise bulimia is not as frequently talked about or as well understood as other eating disorders. But...

Group therapy for eating disorder treatment

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that have deep impacts on many people. By some...

The role of the care partner in ED recovery

Struggling with an eating disorder can be a lonely and isolating experience...

The importance of community during eating disorder recovery

Often, stories of eating disorder recovery focus on the individual, what they have achieved, and how they...

Further reading

No items found.