Food allergy: A manifestation of eating disorder?

Six patients presenting with long history of multiple food allergies producing subjective symptoms not typical of allergy are presented. The diagnosis of food allergy was considered spurious in each case, because purported association of food and symptoms is not reproducible. In these cases longstanding abnormal eating behavior and weight problems preceded the diagnosis of “food allergy” when weight reduction diets were not effective. Acceptance of this pseudodiagnosis is enhanced in patients with susceptibility to suggestion. In any patient with a history of multiple food “allergies” the possibility of an underlying disorder in eating or in weight control should be thoroughly investigated.