Nutrition Therapy for ARFID
What is ARFID?
What is ARFID?
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, better known as ARFID, is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to consume certain foods due to lack of interest in eating/low appetite, unpleasant sensory stimuli (textural, visual, temperature), or fear of aversive consequences that ultimately lead to various states of malnourishment and psychosocial impairment. Formerly known as “Extreme Picky Eating”, ARFID is often associated with young children, but adolescents and adults also suffer from ARFID is equal numbers.
ARFID differs from other eating disorders in that sufferers do not generally find themselves preoccupied with body weight/shape/size, though these thoughts can be present in varying degrees. Food aversions and fears can stem from negative or traumatic food experiences, or may be present for other reasons, including heritability, and co-morbidity with neurodevelopmental and anxiety disorders.
What are signs and symptoms of ARFID?
Signs of ARFID:
-Weight-loss in adults or failure to gain weight/failure-to-thrive in children
-Refusal to eat based on sensory features of foods, or fear of adverse reactions to eating.
-Lack of interest in food and/or lack of appetite
-A small list of foods one feels comfortable eating
-Consequences of restrictive eating, including anemia, fatigue, gastrointestinal complications, hair loss, difficulty concentrating, low blood sugar, and electrolyte imbalances.
-Social isolation, especially around mealtimes
-Co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions like autism, ADHD, and anxiety
How can Amy help treat ARFID as an
Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian Nutritionist?
How can Amy help?
Amy’s most important job as a Dietitian and clinician is to know her clients and understand what type of help they are seeking. It is common to come for one kind of help and realize that the time and effort required is not what was originally expected. Before making any recommendations to help clients with ARFID, Amy will assess how much effort client and clinician should each put forth, how we will know if we’ve accomplished the intended goals, and what it would be like if the outcome was not as expected. Only then can real, meaningful shifts take place in the way the client feeds themselves.