Watch these short comprehensive videos about ARFID. They include information on the behavior, causes, and treatment of ARFID.
What is ARFID?
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a new diagnosis in the DSM-5, and was previously referred to as “Selective Eating Disorder.”
ARFID is similar to anorexia in that both disorders involve limitations in the amount and/or types of food consumed, but unlike anorexia, ARFID does not involve any distress about body shape or size, or fears of fatness.
Although many children go through phases of picky or selective eating, a person with ARFID does not consume enough calories to grow and develop properly and, in adults, to maintain basic body function.
In children, this results in stalled weight gain and vertical growth; in adults, this results in weight loss. ARFID can also result in problems at school or work, due to difficulties eating with others and extended times needed to eat.
Do you or a loved one struggle with the following?
Are you or is someone you love a picky eater?
Maybe you have been a picky eater since early childhood and have a very narrow list of foods you are comfortable eating.
Are you very sensitive to different textures in food?
Maybe you or your child has recently become afraid of choking and now refuses to eat anything solid.
Maybe you have an extreme fear of throwing up that has caused you to avoid eating.
Do the thoughts of eating your non-preferred foods scare you?
Maybe you find it embarrassing when you go out with friends because you won’t eat what everyone else is eating.
Maybe you’ve lost weight but rather than fearing weight gain you fear eating itself.
Maybe you fear the pain you get after eating.
Maybe your child is very particular about the particular brands of the few foods they consume.
Types of ARFID
Like most eating disorders, there are several types of ARFID. These types include avoidant, aversive, restrictive, adult ARFID, and ARFID plus.
Avoidant: Avoidant ARFID is the most common type. Individuals avoid certain types of food based on sensory features, leading to sensitivity or overstimulation reactions. They may feel sensitive to the smell of foods, textures, including soft foods, fruits, and veggies that have defined textures, appearance, or are a certain color.
Aversive: This type of ARFID is when individuals refuse food based on a fear of an adverse reaction. This type evokes a fear of choking, nausea, vomiting, pain, and/or difficulty or issues with swallowing. This forces the individual to avoid food altogether.
Restrictive: Those who experience restrictive ARFID may show signs of little to no interest in food. They may forget to eat altogether, show signs of low to no appetite or get extremely distracted during mealtimes. Other symptoms include extreme pickiness of food, leading to limited intake and variety.