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Although some children have enough trouble eating, serious side effects are rare.
But a recent case in the UK is an important reminder for parents to vary their child's diet.
A new report written by clinical scientists from Bristol Medical School and Bristol Eye Hospital found that a teenager whose diet was extremely limited was deficient in vitamins, resulting in blindness as well as other problems with health, including loss of hearing.
The 14-year-old study did not take any medication and had a normal weight, but ate only highly processed foods, including pringles, white bread and pork.
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"The researchers concluded that the patient's" junk food "diet and limited intake of vitamins and minerals had led to the development of nutritional optic neuropathy," the study said.
"His doctors initially diagnosed mild nutritional deficiencies, especially vitamin B12, and prescribed the appropriate vaccines," said Dr. Sejal Parekh, who works for the ABC News Medical Unit. But, according to the case report, the patient did not complete the injection cycle.
He developed hearing loss, probably due to a decrease in bone density in the inner ear and later developed blindness due to nerve damage.
The patient then "prescribed the appropriate nutritional supplements and was referred to mental health services for restricted nutrition," according to the case report, adding that, although her vision has stabilized, she has not not improved.
"This patient is probably suffering from ARFID, or restrictive dietary intake avoidance disorder, which is becoming a more recognized disorder, in which patients limit their consumption usually based on aversions of texture, the color or taste of food, "said Parekh. "ARFID differs from anorexia in that it is not motivated by image problems or weight." ARFID may be recognized in children with other disorders sensory processing and autism. "
Many people with ARFID have less serious consequences, but not having a varied diet can increase these risks.
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