Article written by Dr. Sherry Boles
What is ARFID?
ARFID or Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is one of several eating disorders found in the DSM-5TR. In order to be diagnosed with ARFID the following criteria must be met:
- An eating or feeding disturbance(e.g. apparent lack of interest in either or food; avoidance based on the sensory characteristics of food; concern about aversive consequences of eating) associated with one (or more) of the following:
Significant weight loss (or failure to achieve expected weight gain or faltering growth in children)
Significant nutritional deficiency
Dependence on internal feeding or oral nutritional supplements
Marked interface with psychosocial functioning - The disturbance is not bette explained by lack of available food or by an associated culturally sanctioned practice.
- The eating disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of anorexia or bulimia nervosa, and there’s no evidence of a disturbance in the way in which one’s body eight or shape is experienced.
- The eating disturbance is not attributable to a concurrent medical condition or not better explained by another mental disorder. When the eating disturbance occurs in the context of another condition or disorder, the severity of the eating disturbance exceeds that routinely associated with the condition or disorder and warrants additional clinical attention.
What causes ARFID?
As with all eating disorders an exact cause of ARFID is unknown. Eating disorders are complex biological, psychological and socio-cultural disorders and ARFID is no exception. Although research does not provide a clear picture of risk related to ARFID the DSM 5TR states that comorbidity is most common with anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and neurodevelopmental disorders (specifically autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and intellectual developmental disorder.
What is the difference between ARFID and other disorders?
Persons with ARFID share many similarities with someone with anorexia nervosa as both limit the amount and types of food they will consume and experience weight loss and nutritional deficits however, what differentiates the two is the person with ARFID does not experience the intense fear of gaining weight or feel distressed based on body size or shape.
Is ARFID related to anxiety?
Yes, as noted in the DSM 5TR, people with ARFID often struggle with anxiety disorders as well. ARFID appears to be equally common among boys and girls however, boys who also have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a higher incidence of ARFID than girls who have ASD. ARFID is also found in various cultures and populations including the USA, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan and China. It is important that the ARFID diagnosis not be given when the avoidance of foods are specific to religious or cultural practices.
If you are someone you know is suffering with ARFID, please get help immediately! Be sure to include your primary care provider in addition to mental health practitioner as children and adolescents with ARFID are often experiencing weight and nutritional deficits and these can lead to more serious medical complications with thier development. The sooner you get treatment the better. If you can’t find the help you need please access my resource guide at my Website, www.drsherryboles.com.
“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” ― Robert Louis Stevenson
