Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Overview | 274.000000000000 | Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Overview | Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Overview | A | English | Psychiatry | Toddler (13-24 months);Preschooler (2-4 years);School age child (5-8 years);Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | NA | NA | Conditions and diseases | Caregivers
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2016-02-02T05:00:00Z | | | | | | 9.30000000000000 | 54.8000000000000 | 494.000000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Conditions | Health A-Z | <p>Learn about the possible causes of ARFID and how it differs from picky eating.</p> | <h2>What is avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder?</h2><p>Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or ARFID for short, is an eating disorder that occurs when a child or teen does not eat enough to meet their energy or nutritional needs. This could be for a range of reasons, including concerns about food texture or not feeling well when eating.</p><p>Children and teens with this disorder eat very little food or avoid certain foods. This can result in significant weight loss or a failure to gain weight.</p> | | <h2>Key points</h2><ul><li>A child who has ARFID eats very little food or avoids certain foods for a range of reasons, for example because of concerns about food texture or not feeling well when eating.</li><li>Some people with ARFID have anxiety disorders that appear as a fear of vomiting or choking.</li><li> ARFID is not the same as picky eating. It involves having a poor appetite overall, rather than a rejection of a few foods, and needs medical attention and psychological care. ARFID usually develops in childhood but can occur in people of all ages.</li></ul> | | | <h2>What causes ARFID?</h2>
<p>Not a lot of information is currently known about the causes of ARFID. </p>
<p>Some children and teens with ARFID will struggle with <a href="/Article?contentid=18&language=English">anxiety disorders</a> that appear as a fear of vomiting or choking. Other children and teens may experience eating issues as part of another disorder, for example <a href="/autism">autism</a>. They would only be diagnosed with ARFID, however, if their food issues were more severe than would be expected with the disorder.</p>
<h2>Is ARFID the same as "picky eating"?</h2>
<p>No, ARFID is not the same as "picky eating".</p>
<ul>
<li>Children with ARFID may refuse to eat foods of a certain texture, colour, taste, temperature or smell. Picky eating typically involves only a few foods.</li>
<li>If a child has ARFID, they tend to have a poor appetite and experience delayed growth. So-called picky eaters have a normal appetite, eat enough food overall and develop normally.</li>
<li>The problems that people with ARFID develop with food continue for a long time and need medical attention and psychological care. The eating patterns found among picky eaters usually resolve on their own eventually.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Who is affected by ARFID?</h2>
<p>ARFID typically begins during childhood but can occur in people of all ages. Unlike those with <a href="/Article?contentid=268&language=English">anorexia nervosa</a> or <a href="/Article?contentid=282&language=English">bulimia nervosa</a>, people with ARFID do not have body image concerns or fears about gaining weight.</p> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information on avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), please see the following pages:</p><p>
<a href="/Article?contentid=275&language=English">ARFID: Signs and symptoms</a></p><p>
<a href="/Article?contentid=273&language=English">ARFID: Medical complications</a></p><p>
<a href="/Article?contentid=703&language=English">ARFID: Treatment options</a></p><p>
<a href="/Article?contentid=272&language=English">ARFID: How to help your child at home</a><br></p><p>Please visit our teen mental health hub for teen-specific resources on <a href="https://teens.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3789&language=English&hub=mentalhealthAZ#mentalhealth">avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)</a>.</p><h2>Resources<br></h2><p>
<a href="http://www.nedic.ca/" target="_blank">NEDIC – National Eating Disorder Information Centre</a> (Canada)</p><p>
<a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/" target="_blank">NEDA – National Eating Disorder Association</a> (United States)</p><p>American Academy of Pediatrics –
<em>
<a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Is-Your-Teen-at-Risk-for-Developing-an-Eating-Disorder.aspx" target="_blank">Eating Disorders in Children</a> </em></p><p>
<a href="https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/" target="_blank">BEAT – Beating Eating Disorders</a> (United Kingdom)</p><p>
<a href="https://keltyeatingdisorders.ca/" target="_blank">Kelty Eating Disorders</a> (Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, BC Children's Hospital)</p><p>Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario –
<a href="https://www.cheo.on.ca/en/eating_disorder_info" target="_blank">
<em>Eating Disorders</em></a></p> <strong>Virtual care services for children:</strong>
<div>
<b><br></b><strong></strong>
<div>Boomerang Health was opened by SickKids to provide communities in Ontario with greater access to community-based services for children and adolescents. For more information on virtual care services in Ontario to support eating disorders, visit <a href="http://www.boomeranghealth.com/services/nutrition/">Boomerang Health</a> powered by SickKids.<br></div></div> | | <img alt="" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/avoidant_restrictive_food_intake_overview.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/avoidant_restrictive_food_intake_overview.jpg | | | | | | | Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Overview | | False | | | ARFID: Overview | Learn about the possible causes of Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and how it differs from picky eating. | | | | |