Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

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Sometimes when life feels out of control, we cling to things we can control, like our relationship with food.  

Per the DSM 5, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is “an eating or feeding disturbance as manifested by persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs 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 enteral feeding or oral nutritional supplements

  • Marked interference with psychosocial functioning

Eating disturbances may be resulted from one or more of the following:

  • Lack of interest in food or eating

  • Avoidance based on texture, taste, appearance, or smell

  • Fear of adverse event (choking, allergic reaction, etc.)

ARFID is different from picking eating! Picky eating usually results in avoidance of specific foods and does not impact growth and development. Picky eating can also go away or change as a child grows. ARFID can cause complications that do affect your appetite and overall health due to a lack of adequate nutrition.

  • Dietitians can assess current nutritional intake, status of malnutrition, weight goals, gastrointestinal symptoms, and safe vs fear foods to create personalized nutrition recommendations.

  • RDs can provide education to clients and their families to challenge eating disorder thoughts and societal misinformation regarding food. RDs can help support clients to fact check thoughts on food to reduce anxiety experienced during mealtime. They can also provide education on the impacts of eating disorders on the body. Through counseling, clients can develop a healthier relationship with food.

  • Regular follow ups to track progress, adjust recommendations, and offer encouragement and support throughout recovery journey.

  • Dietitians can work with primary care physicians to determine appropriateness for level of treatment needed and to provide specific nutrition recommendations based on findings during PCP appointments.

How Dietitians Can Help

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