Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder:
ARFID is a genuine health issue—not stubbornness, attention-seeking or a passing problem—and with proper support, individuals can recover, live healthy and confident lives, and maintain a good relationship with food.
- It is a mental health condition that causes one to limit the amount and type of food one eats.
- It isn’t the result of a distorted self-image or an attempt to lose body weight, which is common among other eating disorders.
- The eating problems seen in ARFID stem from other factors, such as:
- Aversions to certain food groups or textures of foods
- Lack of appetite
- Preferences for specific colors of foods
- Fears of vomiting or choking after eating
- Although ARFID can occur at any age, it most commonly develops during infancy or early childhood and may persist into adulthood.
- In children, ARFID occurs more frequently in males than females.
- People with ARFID often have anxiety disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and developmental and/or intellectual disabilities.
- Additionally, there is likely a genetic component, as ARFID commonly runs in families.
- As well as being selective about food, someone with ARFID might not eat (consume) enough calories to grow and develop.
- In children, this may cause stalled weight gain, weight loss, or even stalled vertical growth (growing taller).
- It may lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated.
- The main treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy.
