Emily Simpson Opens Up About Son's Battle With Rare Eating Disorder

The Real Housewives family receives love and support from fans and fellow cast members alike. Emily Simpson, a fan-favorite star from The Real Housewives of Orange County, is opening up about a very personal battle her family is facing. During the season 19 premiere, Simpson tearfully revealed that her 10-year-old son, Luke, has been diagnosed with a rare and complex eating disorder, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).

Luke, who is a picky eater, has struggled with an increasingly complex eating disorder for over a year, and that has worried him for his health and his well-being. "He just doesn't eat at all," Emily said, and if that wasn't bad enough. What started off as your average toddler fussiness has turned into a significant problem, not only for Luke's health but for his emotional well-being.

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The disorder Luke has been diagnosed with is called ARFID, which includes sensitivity to certain types of food, avoidance of certain foods, and the inability to identify feeling hungry. Luke, as Emily writes, doesn't get when he's hungry, a scenario that further complicates his efforts to eat correctly. During an emotional discussion with her husband, Shane Simpson, Emily said that food is a trigger for Luke. "Food in general disgusts him," she said of how he is sensitive to smell. She detailed how Luke would remark on his aversion to specific situations, saying, "Someone's home stinks," a testament to his heightened sense of smell.

For Emily, this was not only a surprise but a heart-wrenching discovery that no amount of motherly love could immediately alleviate. She admitted it's been a long road, revealing the emotional effects of the diagnosis on her family. Emily, a mother of three, has been frustrated and afraid while watching this unfold. Luke needs trained and professional support, and he needs us to be patient with him. Emily's candor about Luke's hardship is raising awareness of a disorder that is often misunderstood. By sharing her family's story, she hopes to raise awareness about ARFID and support other parents in similar situations.