A teenager has told how he has managed to live on 100 chicken nuggets a week after his extreme food phobia changed his life.
David has been warned that his health could take a nosedive if he keeps up with the unhealthy eating habit.
The 18-year-old, from Darlington, says he has a crippling fear of food textures and mushy ingredients and has not touched a vegetable since he was a child. David orders from the food menu while out for a meal, the Daily Mail reports.
He has appeared on Tuesday's episode of Extreme Food Phobics on W and even admitted himself his diet of chicken nuggets is "ridiculous."
The effects of the diet on David's health was relayed by Dr Ranj, the show's host.
David, one of six children said he was worried his bizarre eating habit would rub off on his siblings.
David was told he could be at a higher risk of obesity-related health problems including heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
He said: "If someone said my diet is ridiculous I would agree. But I would explain it's something deep in the back of my mind that I can't change which is why I've come to the clinic today to hopefully get some help.
"It's awful to see my brother has started to eat this way and I know it's because of me he's started to become the same. I've struggled putting on weight all my life so eating fruits and vegetables will just make me feel so much healthier."
Dr Ranj showed David the amount of frozen food he eats monthly and tried to find the underlying reasons for his fear. David said he did not like trying new textures, or softer foods including mashed potatoes as it made him gag.
David said his fear of mushy food has been "hard" and "stressful" for his mother as he has his own freezer at home so he can make his own dinner while she makes food for his siblings.
He also described his embarrassment at going for meals when he has to plan in advance or order from a kids menu. He added that heartbreakingly there were times he had missed out because of his food fear.
David said to combat his fear he wanted to try mashed potatoes.
As part of his rehabilitation he spoke with a leading food phobia expert who took him into a room full of potatoes with a serving of mashed potatoes under a platter, which he said made him feel sickly and anxious.
David was also taken to a clinical psychologist for hypnosis which he said after made him feel "much better."
His final challenge was a banquet.
At the end of the programme, David could be seen four weeks later eating a sandwich. He said: "It's been amazing the whole experience, now I can try anything and if I don't like it I don't like it.
"I'm looking forward to going for meals with my family, not worrying about what I'm going to order or what I'm going to eat."
