Emily Simpson Reveals Family Struggle After Son’s ARFID Diagnosis
By Avery Sinclair
Oh, this should be good. Reality veteran Emily Simpson is candidly confessing how her son Luke’s recent diagnosis of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) threw her entire household into chaos. The Real Housewives of Orange County cast member admitted exclusively to E! News that when Luke, now 10, hit the worst of his food aversion, she and husband Shane became hyper-focused on his treatment—so much so that daughter Annabelle, 12, and Luke’s twin brother Keller ended up feeling like afterthoughts.
Simpson explained that as they scrambled to find therapists and nutrition specialists who really understood ARFID – a condition marked by extreme food avoidance rather than weight-obsession – the other siblings watched their brother lash out in frustration. “I realized I wasn’t giving Annabelle and Keller the attention they deserved,” she said, paraphrased from her exclusive interview. Annabelle, ever the confident tween, eventually disclosed she felt neglected during those intense sessions, while Keller needed his own space to process seeing his twin struggle.
Swinging between appointment schedules, at-home meal battles and documentary-style filming for season 19, Simpson admits she underplayed how tricky an eating disorder can be in a ten-year-old’s brain. She said early on they got annoyed when Luke refused everything but three or four safe foods – a mistake common among parents who don’t realize it’s not simple picky eating. Now the Simpsons keep Luke’s comfort snacks on hand, never guilt him about sticking to them, and only gently introduce one new food at a time, as guided by professionals.
Therapy became a household staple. Both Keller and Annabelle sat down with a counselor to unpack their own reactions to Luke’s mood swings and emotional meltdowns. Simpson noted she hadn’t anticipated how much her firstborn’s disorder would ripple through the rest of the family dynamic. Looking back, she credits open conversations and family therapy for helping everyone feel heard and supported.
Simpson also revealed that while filming season 19 added stress – Luke was out of school and battling anxiety about cameras – the family has since settled into a better routine. He’s no longer missing class or crying over lunch, and his willingness to try new foods has improved, if only incrementally. “He’s doing much better than he was during our Bravo shoot,” she shared, highlighting that progress is slow but steady.
For parents who suspect an eating disorder in their child, Simpson’s no-BS advice is to trust your gut and find a specialist pronto. With so many resources available, she insists early intervention can change the trajectory of ARFID long before it becomes a crisis. After all, mom’s intuition rarely lies.
And that brings us to our parting gem: if you ever worry your kid might only eat chicken nuggets and grapes forever, at least you have some celebrity company in that struggle.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
