about arfid
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), which was previously known as Selective Eating Disorder, is the latest eating disorder added to the DSM-5 Manual for mental disorders. It is a field that is minimally researched, due to it being a relatively new diagnosis. ARFID may sometimes be confused with anorexia nervosa because they both have similar risks, however, ARFID does not have issues relating to body image. There are many health risks and complications that may occur as a result from having ARFID. These risks are similar to those associated with anorexia nervosa, such as: malnutrition, kidney and liver failure, cardiac complications, bone density and hormone deficiencies, constipation, low growth, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, anemia, and gastrointestinal issues, to name a few.*
There are many reasons children and adults restrict their food intake. Some have a fear of vomiting or choking. Other may restrict due to having sensory processing disorder. Sensory processing disorder is a condition in which people become dis-regulated by the smells, texture, temperatures, appearances, and taste of food.* Still others restrict because they simply have no hunger signs, usually due to anxiety, and therefore prefer not to eat at all. Many resources show that when the body feels stressed, it can suppress hunger. Therefore, someone who has high anxiety, may feel “full", even when their stomachs are really empty.
Statistically, ARFID tends to be a result from a genetic disposition. It appears to affect more boys than girls and affects more children/adolescents than adults.* Most children do not outgrow this illness over time, without treatment. With ARFID being a fairly new diagnosis, it can easily go undiagnosed and therefore untreated. Sadly, there are still many physicians that have never heard of ARFID.
ARFID is often co-morbid with other medical conditions, such as obsessive compulsive behavior (OCD), general anxiety, depression, or neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention deficit/ hyper-activity disorder (ADHD) to name a few.* Based on what you or your child’s ARFID is co-morbid with, the approach for treatment may vary. Therefore, what works for one child may or may not work for another. That said, when we pool ideas together, we learn from one another, which increases one’s chances for success in recovery.
*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V) 2013
There are many reasons children and adults restrict their food intake. Some have a fear of vomiting or choking. Other may restrict due to having sensory processing disorder. Sensory processing disorder is a condition in which people become dis-regulated by the smells, texture, temperatures, appearances, and taste of food.* Still others restrict because they simply have no hunger signs, usually due to anxiety, and therefore prefer not to eat at all. Many resources show that when the body feels stressed, it can suppress hunger. Therefore, someone who has high anxiety, may feel “full", even when their stomachs are really empty.
Statistically, ARFID tends to be a result from a genetic disposition. It appears to affect more boys than girls and affects more children/adolescents than adults.* Most children do not outgrow this illness over time, without treatment. With ARFID being a fairly new diagnosis, it can easily go undiagnosed and therefore untreated. Sadly, there are still many physicians that have never heard of ARFID.
ARFID is often co-morbid with other medical conditions, such as obsessive compulsive behavior (OCD), general anxiety, depression, or neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention deficit/ hyper-activity disorder (ADHD) to name a few.* Based on what you or your child’s ARFID is co-morbid with, the approach for treatment may vary. Therefore, what works for one child may or may not work for another. That said, when we pool ideas together, we learn from one another, which increases one’s chances for success in recovery.
*Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-V) 2013
