Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Avoidant/Restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) can occur at any age. A person with ARFID does not eat enough food or take in the necessary nutrients to be healthy.Common symptoms are:
People with ARFID do not have the distorted body image problems of someone with anorexia nervosa. But, the consequences of being underweight and lacking necessary nutrients can be just as severe.
*It’s important to note that treatments for ARFID are in development. Thankfully, there is some emerging evidence for the effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR).
Resource List
- weight loss that is of concern (or failure to gain weight in growing children)
- malnutrition
- dependence on nutritional supplements
- problems in daily life
People with ARFID do not have the distorted body image problems of someone with anorexia nervosa. But, the consequences of being underweight and lacking necessary nutrients can be just as severe.
*It’s important to note that treatments for ARFID are in development. Thankfully, there is some emerging evidence for the effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR).
Resource List
- ARFID Workbook ( English )