ARFID, or Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, is an eating disorder that goes far beyond typical “picky eating.” People with ARFID have significant difficulty consuming enough food, a wide enough variety of foods, or both. This isn’t about body image or weight loss; rather, it stems from intense sensory sensitivities, a fear of adverse reactions to food, or simply a disinterest in eating. Left unaddressed, ARFID can lead to serious mental and physical health problems at any age.
It’s crucial to understand that ARFID is a clinically recognized eating disorder. It can profoundly impact a person’s life and health, emerging from a complex interplay of environmental and genetic factors, not a choice or a phase.
ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) can lead to a range of serious physical symptoms due to inadequate nutrition and calorie intake. These symptoms can vary depending on the severity and duration of the disorder, as well as the specific nutrients that are lacking.
- Noticeable weight loss or rapid decrease in body mass.
- Lack of Expected Weight Gain / Falling Off Growth Curve (children)
- Low Body Weight
- Fatigue and Low Energy Levels
- Signs of Malnutrition (e.g. dry skin, brittle nails, hair loss, lanugo)
- Poor wound healing
- Pale skin.
- Impaired Immune Function
- Cold Intolerance
- Gastrointestinal Issues (e.g. chronic constipation, abdominal pain/discomfort, bloating, reflux)
- Specific Nutrient Deficiencies: (e.g. anemia/iron deficiency, electrolyte imbalances, vitamin deficiencies)
- Cardiovascular Symptoms (e.g. slow heart rate, low blood pressure, poor circulation)
- Muscle Weakness and Decreased Muscle Mass
- Bone Health Issues
- Delayed or Absent Menstrual Periods (Amenorrhea): In menstruating individuals due to energy deficit.
- Cognitive Impairment
- Sleep Disturbances.
The behavioral symptoms of ARFID primarily involve a highly restricted diet, often driven by sensory aversions, a fear of adverse consequences from eating, or a general lack of interest in food.
- Limited Variety of Foods Eaten: Consistently eating a narrow range of preferred foods (often described as “safe” foods), typically less than 20.
- Avoidance of Specific Food Characteristics: Rejecting foods based on sensory properties like color, texture, smell, temperature, or consistency.
- Fear-Based Avoidance: Refusing to eat certain foods or food groups due to a past negative experience (e.g., choking, vomiting, severe allergic reaction) or an anticipated negative outcome.
- Lack of Interest in Food/Eating: Showing little to no appetite, forgetting to eat, or having a general disinterest in meals.
- Picky Eating that Worsens Over Time: Unlike typical picky eating, ARFID tends to become more severe and restrictive.
- Difficulties with Social Eating: Avoiding communal meals, refusing to eat at school or social gatherings, or eating very little in front of others.
- Extended Meal Times: Taking a very long time to eat meals due to reluctance or difficulty swallowing.
- Dependent on Specific Brands/Preparations: Only eating a food if it’s a specific brand or prepared in a very particular way.
- Hiding or Disposing of Food: Secretly getting rid of food to avoid eating it.
- Refusal to Try New Foods: Strong resistance to introducing any new items into the diet.
- Requiring Distractions to Eat: Needing to watch TV, read, or play games to consume food.
- Oral Motor/Swallowing Difficulties: Observable struggles with chewing or swallowing that impact intake.
- Supplement Dependence: Relying heavily on nutritional supplements (shakes, bars) because of inadequate intake from solid foods.
The emotional symptoms of ARFID often include significant anxiety or distress around food and mealtimes, irritability, social anxiety due to eating challenges, and sometimes a general lack of interest in eating.
- Anxiety/Distress Related to Food: Experiencing significant anxiety, panic, or distress around mealtimes, new foods, or specific feared foods.
- Irritability or Frustration: Becoming easily agitated or upset when encouraged or pressured to eat non-preferred foods.
- Social Anxiety: Feeling anxious or embarrassed about eating in front of others due to their restricted diet.
- Emotional Flatness/Low Mood: Due to malnutrition, some individuals may experience reduced emotional expression or signs of depression.
- Fear of Choking/Vomiting/Illness: Intense fear associated with eating, particularly if linked to a previous traumatic experience.
- Lack of Motivation/Energy: Feeling generally unmotivated or lethargic, which can contribute to low mood or irritability.
- Body Image Dissatisfaction (Secondary): While not the primary driver, prolonged severe underweight can sometimes lead to body dissatisfaction, but it’s not core to the ARFID diagnosis itself.
- Obsessive Thoughts about Food (in some cases): While not about calories or weight, thoughts might revolve around the safety or sensory aspects of specific foods.
ARFID Treatment
ARFID behaviors, like avoiding certain foods or fearing eating, sometimes arise from underlying psychological and emotional concerns, including past food-related trauma. Particularly for neurodivergent individuals, behaviors often relate to global sensory sensitivities. Since eating disorders manifest uniquely in each person, a one-size-fits-all treatment approach simply isn’t effective.
At PPG, we tailor our ARFID treatment to each patient’s specific needs, challenges, and life circumstances. While the exact treatment path varies, all patients will collaborate with a team of registered dietitians, medical doctors, and therapists. This comprehensive approach helps restore physical health and develop sustainable plans for long-term well-being. Our work with individuals facing ARFID is always highly collaborative, reflecting our overall treatment philosophy at PPG.
More than picky eating. A treatable anxiety about food.
Unlike typical picky eating, ARFID often leads to nutritional deficiencies and major disruptions to daily life due to severe food limitations. Our treatment focuses on expanding food variety in a supportive environment, addressing the underlying anxiety to make eating a less stressful experience.