BON APPÉTIT
For some people, sitting down to a balanced meal can be an exercise in fear and loathing
• After a difficult break-up, Michaela Harris, 23, a mother of three from Middlesbrough, was diagnosed in 2016 with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. All food makes her gag – apart from chicken nuggets and crisps. After four years, she weighs just 73lb (33kg) and worries she may lose her sight (a common side effect of the disorder) or even die. Sun, 11 Aug 2020.
• Jenny Edgar’s eating disorder had the opposite effect, making her balloon to 247lb (112kg). For more than 20 years, the 32-yearold health centre receptionist from Coventry ate only pasta, chips, cheese, biscuits and dry cereal. Meat, vegetables and fruit made her gag. Preparing for her forthcoming marriage in March this year, she visited hypnotherapist Russell Hemmings, and was cured after six sessions. Sun, 28 Aug 2020.
• At the age of 18 months, Zachary Twigger developed neophobia – fear of trying something new. For the next 10 years he would eat nothing but Dairylea cheese sandwiches. He developed type I diabetes and was losing weight, so in desperation his mother Becky, 38, from Coventry, took him to hypnotherapist David Kilmurry. After a two-hour session, Zachary ate his first cooked meal, a roast dinner with all the trimmings. His dependence on the triangular silver slices was finally foiled. Metro, Sun, D.Mirror, 3 Sept 2020.
• Ben Simpson, 15, from Swansea, lived all his life on four sausages washed down with water. He too was cured after a two-hour session with David Kilmurry – as was Martha Davies, 10, from Coventry, who lived solely on Warburton’s medium sliced white bread, toasted, and the occasional handful of BBQ Pringles. We’re amazed she was still alive after a decade of such meagre fare. Sun, 22 Sept; D.Mirror, 7 Oct 2020.
• Since childhood, factory worker Jordan Dean, 25, from Carlisle, had survived on jam sandwiches. The only other foods he would eat were cheese slices, biscuits and crisps. He didn’t even know how to use a knife and fork. Then he read about Kilmurry’s cures and after a session with him he now has a normal diet. Sun, 6 Jan 2021.
• Six-year-old Jessica Jones developed a food phobia when her mother Lesley tried to move her onto solids as a baby. From that point on, Jessica refused to eat anything but chicken nuggets. “We had been on holiday to Turkey and she went a whole week without eating because they didn’t do chicken nuggets there, said Lesley. Doctors seemed unable to help, but a hypnotherapist said Jessica had Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder; following a session with David Kilmurry (him again!), Jessica managed to move on to chicken fillets, apples and grapes. D.Mirror, 23 Oct 2020.
• Caitlin Brennan, 24, a nail technician from Bristol, can’t stand vegetables and eats only beige foods. She lives off fish fingers, chicken nuggets, skinless sausages, quiche, pasta and rice. The only fruit she eats is apples, which have to be peeled and chopped up. Maybe someone should tell her about Kilmurry… Sun, 10 Mar 2021.
• Nick Carson, 62, from Lowestoft, suffers from auto brewery syndrome, a disorder that causes his body to turn carbohydrates into alcohol. He developed ABS in 2003 after being exposed to strong chemicals while at work, but it took him years to be diagnosed, after his wife saw the condition on an episode of TV drama Doc Martin. He craves Victoria sponge cake, which leaves him so drunk he can pass out. D.Star Sunday, 10 Jan 2021.
For some disgusting delicacies guaranteed to put sensitive types off their food, turn to p6.