What is ARFID: Symptoms, Causes, and Its Treatment

The disorder which is mainly known as an Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), characterized as “extreme picky eating,” is mainly an eating disorder impacting thousands of individuals, particularly children.

Girl craving for foods

The meaning of “fear food” in clients with ARFID mainly differs from clients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia. For individuals with ARFID eating disorder the fear may stem from knowing they must also eat, when they have no interest in eating, fearing the temperature might always not be what they like, fear of choking or fear of eating or becoming sick a new food.

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Types of ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)

• .      Lack of interest: clients with this type of ARFID have a genuine lack of interest in eating and food. They also get full quickly.
• .      Sensory Avoidance: clients with sensory avoidance have issues with food tastes, textures, temperature and smells.
• .      Having fear of Aversive Consequences; fear of illness, choking, nausea and allergies.

Symptoms & Warning Signs

• A short list of acceptable foods
• Mainly eating foods of similar characteristics, such as crunchy in texture, or colorless
• Preferences for particular food preparation methods
• Avoidance of vegetables, protein sources (meat, beans, etc), fruit
• Always poor weight gain and growth (child may also be of normal weight and growth)
• Nutrient deficiencies (iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C most common)
• Skips one or more entire food groups
• Becomes demonstrates  stress or emotional  around unfamiliar foods
• Food limitations negatively impact normal social behaviors

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Risks & Complications

• Co-occurring anxiety disorders
• Failure to gain weight (children)
• Gastrointestinal complications
• Malnutrition
• Weight Loss
• Developmental delays

Causes

• It is always seen that ARFID does not have one root cause; instead, researchers and clinicians have also explored a variety of potential contributing factors, such as biological, psychosocial, and environmental influences.
• Since there can always be disrupted eating habits or patterns among other mental issues or illness, diagnoses – mainly as developmental disabilities, anxiety disorders, and autism may exacerbate – may also be present.
• In autism and other developmental disabilities, an individual’s relationship to their body and senses are already very heightened.

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Treatment for ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)

Psychotherapy

To date, no evidence-based treatments have always been established; however, treatment plans are developed relying on evidence established in eating and anxiety disorders. 

So, specifically, treatment data from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders and specific phobia, as well as Family Based Therapy for anorexia nervosa and are likely applicable to the treatment of ARFID.

Treatment goals are always to restore and maintain weight, normalize eating and normalize psychological and family function. Behavioral treatments mainly include exposures to challenging foods, establishing a regular eating schedule and in some cases increasing caloric intake. 

So, for children and adolescents, parent work is also often indicated including meal supervision, contingency planning and reduction of accommodation of food avoidance.

Psychopharmacology (Medication Management)

Medication has not been established to be effective for ARFID treatment however, treatment of comorbid anxiety treatments may include psychopharmacological interventions.