Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder most widely recognized in children, but it is not uncommon in adults. Individuals with ARFID will have trouble meeting nutritional and/or energy needs for any of the following reasons:
- They lack interest in eating or don’t have much of an appetite for food.
- They are concerned about aversive consequences related to eating, like choking, becoming sick, experiencing nausea, etc.
- They eat and avoid foods based on sensory characteristics (color, taste, smell, texture, temperature, etc.)
Food restriction and avoidance in ARFID are not linked to body image issues, as with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. ARFID, sometimes known as “extreme picky eating,” is also linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and other conditions.
If you suspect that you have symptoms of ARFID, answer the questions below and share the results with a licensed mental health professional who is experienced in diagnosing and treating eating disorders, including ARFID.
If you or a loved one is suffering from an eating disorder, contact the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org for support, resources, and treatment options.
This self-test was adapted from the Nine Item ARFID Screen (NIAS) and the Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder Interview (PARDI). It is designed to screen for the possibility of ARFID, and it is for personal use only. This test is not intended as a diagnostic tool. Only a licensed mental health professional can diagnose ARFID.
Can’t see the self-test questions above? Click here to open this test in a new window.
ARFID Symptoms: Next Steps
FAQs
Gradual Exposure and Sensory Desensitization:
One effective strategy for overcoming food aversion is gradual exposure. This technique involves introducing new or disliked foods slowly and in small quantities.
Do people with ARFID have body image issues? ›
As you learned in Chapter 1, a distinction between ARFID and other eating disorders (like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa) is an absence of serious body-image distress. In other words, in ARFID, feeling badly or overly worried about how your body looks or how much you weigh is absent.
Why am I hungry but repulsed by food? ›
Mental health ailments like depression or anxiety can stunt your appetite, leading you to feel hungry but without an appealing food option. Even when you're stressed in the short term—say, about an upcoming presentation—you may notice feeling hungry but not having an appetite for anything.
Why do I feel so hungry but when I eat I feel sick? ›
Digestive conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroparesis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can cause nausea after eating. Here is a look at common digestive diseases that may cause nausea after eating.
Can people with ARFID be fat? ›
Many children and adults with ARFID are not underweight; some may even be overweight and this alone is not a predetermining feature of ARFID.
What are the five types of ARFID? ›
The types of ARFID include: avoidant, aversive, restrictive, ARFID “plus" and adult ARFID.
Is ARFID a form of autism? ›
Autism and ARFID aren't the same thing, but the two conditions commonly occur together. One study found a comorbidity, or co-occurring, rate of 21%, while another noted that ASD was a predictor of ARFID developing in children.
What causes sensory food aversion in adults? ›
Some experts believe that people who get it might have extreme sensitivity to taste or texture. They might have had a bad experience with food – like choking or vomiting – that makes them fearful or anxious about food. It might happen from a combination of personality, genes, and other things that trigger it.
Why am I grossed out by food texture? ›
The sight, the smell, or taste of the food causes you to feel nauseous or makes you gag.” Um, yuck! Why does this happen to us? Well, the exact cause of food aversion is unknown, but studies speculate that it is due to either hormonal changes or difficulties with sensory processing.
Can food aversion be cured? ›
The main treatment for ARFID is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This therapy will help you: Recognize problematic thoughts and behaviors that affect your health. Feel less fear or anxiety around food.
Sensory processing disorder (SPD) can cause texture sensitivities with food. If your child suffers from SPD, the texture of food can be painfully distracting and cause extreme anxiety. They may also suffer from sensory overload causing them to avoid food while in certain environments.
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