Are you or someone you know a “picky” eater? Have you ever wondered when picky eating may get out of hand and actually pose health risks? There is a relatively newer eating disorder with increasing prevalence that may sound like picky eating, but there are key differences.
What is ARFID?
ARFID stands for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and it refers to selective eating motivated by:
Lack of interest in eating or food
Sensory sensitivity (taste, texture, smell, appearance of foods)
Fear of aversive consequences such as choking, vomiting, or other GI symptoms such as bloating or abdominal discomfort
Prevalence
It’s estimated that 0.5–5% of children and adults have ARFID, but due to limited research, the actual prevalence is likely higher. It can develop at any age, but occurs frequently in early childhood. There is a significant correlation between those with ARFID and those with neurodivergence, partially related to hypersensitivity and sensory overload among other factors.
ARFID vs. Picky Eating
A few key factors distinguish ARFID from picky eating. Namely, an ARFID diet is so limited that it leads to medical, nutritional, and/or psychosocial problems, such as:
Weight loss
Stalled growth
Nutritional deficiencies
Disrupted relationships
Impaired social ability
Interference in school or work
Treatment
Treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach including a physician, psychiatrist, dietitian, psychotherapist, and possibly a feeding therapist and/or SLP if choking is a concern. Possible treatment modalities include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Family-Based Therapy (FBT)
Exposure therapy
These approaches help a patient increase comfort with a particular food and trying new foods in general, in order to ultimately expand their diet.
