Through ARFID treatment, food can be fear-free

Those with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) experience textural or other food aversions, significant distress or worries about feared consequences of eating, or lack of interest in eating food. Its rigid and restrictive behaviors go far beyond picky eating, impacting those with the disorder both mentally and physically.

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What is ARFID?

ARFID involves restrictive eating behaviors that severely limit calorie intake, which results in growth delays, weight loss, and health implications of malnutrition across all ages. It differs from other eating disorders as there are usually no behaviors or thoughts that indicate a fear of weight gain or desire to be thin.

With proper assessment and specialized treatment, ARFID can be overcome.

DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for ARFID:

The individual demonstrates a disturbed eating experience that is associated with one or more of the following:
- Nutritional deficiency as a result of inadequate intake of food
- Weight loss (adults) or failure to gain weight (children)
- Decline in psychosocial function
- Dependence on supplements to maintain nutritional health

The disturbed eating is not due to an explainable external factor, such as food being unavailable or in short supply.
The person does not have a distorted body image.
The feeding disturbance or food restriction is not a result of some other physical or mental illness. For example, a person who loses weight because of the flu or food poisoning does not have an eating disorder, so a diagnosis of ARFID would not be relevant.

Sign & symptoms of ARFID

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of ARFID can help you or someone you know get proper support.
Here are some common signs to look for:

Highly selective in choosing food; anxiety when presented with “fear” foods
Avoidance of particular foods based on texture, color, taste, smell, food groups, etc.
Challenged by eating in various social situations
Weight loss and/or failure to gain appropriate weight; it is possible to have ARFID at any size
Frequent vomiting or gagging after exposure to certain foods
Hesitation with eating or chewing food
Lack of appetite, interest, or joy in eating
Consumption of extremely small portions
Dependence on external feeding tubes or nutritional supplements

Risk factors for ARFID

Although the exact causes are unknown, ARFID likely results from a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. However, some factors may put an individual more at risk for developing ARFID.

Sensory sensitivities

Sensory problems related to taste, texture, smell, or appearance of foods are common in individuals with ARFID. These sensitivities can make it challenging to consume a wide range of foods and may lead to avoidance of certain textures or flavors.

Negative food experiences

Traumatic and negative food experiences such as choking incidents, food poisoning, or adverse reactions to specific foods may also contribute.

Co-occurring disorders

Conditions like anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), ADHD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can make trying new foods or eating in unfamiliar social settings extremely challenging.

What does treatment for ARFID look like?

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Monte Nido can help

With ARFID’s unique nature – and prevalence among young people – an intensive and specialized treatment approach is needed in most cases.

Monte Nido provides specialized ARFID treatment across our programs and levels of care for individuals and families. We offer distinct adolescent and adult programs that are family informed, which have been proven to minimize disordered eating, lead to a more balanced diet, and improve long-term recovery rates.

91% of ARFID residents reported improvements in depression
87% of clients improved in their Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire results
84% of ARFID residents with PTSD at the time of admission reported improvement in their trauma symptoms

Treatment for ARFID involves a multidisciplinary team approach, medical monitoring, nutritional counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, anxiety management, and family-based treatment for children. Once the person is physically stable, the focus is on addressing the root causes, reintroducing variety in the diet, and improving nutritional intake.

If you have more questions about ARFID treatment at Monte Nido, please reach out

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Frequently asked ARFID questions

How is ARFID different from other eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia?

The main difference is that ARFID typically does not involve poor body image disturbance, fear of weight gain, or a fixation on external appearance that characterizes anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. With ARFID, there is simply a lack of interest in eating or avoidance of certain foods. However, inadequate nutrition and caloric intake, especially among children, can seriously delay growth or prevent normal weight gain (Brigham et al., 2018).

What other conditions can overlap with ARFID?

ARFID frequently occurs with other conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD,) and obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD). If you or someone you know has ARFID, it is important to seek treatment from an eating disorder specialist. Monte Nido can help. Reach out to us here.

What are the health risks of untreated ARFID?

Though ARFID is different from more well-known eating disorders, it is still an eating disorder that can cause serious health risks if left untreated. Common health risks associated with ARFID that occur as a result of malnutrition include: