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Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Signs and symptomsAAvoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Signs and symptomsAvoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Signs and symptomsEnglishPsychiatryToddler (13-24 months);Preschooler (2-4 years);School age child (5-8 years);Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)NANAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2023-09-12T04:00:00Z12.400000000000042.3000000000000796.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Learn the main signs and symptoms of ARFID and when ARFID may not be diagnosed.</p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=274&language=English">Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)</a> can cause serious <a href="/Article?contentid=273&language=English">complications that require medical attention </a> . See your child's health-care provider if your child displays any of the signs or symptoms outlined below.</p><h2>Key points</h2> <ul> <li>A child with ARFID will display a range of physical and behavioural warning signs.</li> <li>Behavioural signs include a sudden refusal to eat, a fear of choking and difficulty eating meals with others.</li> <li>Physical signs include delayed growth and, depending on your child's age, weight loss or failure to gain weight.</li> <li>Doctors will not diagnose ARFID if a child's symptoms can be explained by cultural practice or lack of access to food or if a child's weight loss can be explained by a physical condition or other mental health disorder.</li> </ul><h2>Behavioural signs of ARFID</h2><h3>Sudden refusal to eat foods</h3><p>A person with ARFID may no longer eat food that they ate previously.</p><h3>Fear of choking or vomiting</h3><p>People with ARFID may refuse certain foods for fear that they will make them choke or vomit.</p><h3>Losing appetite for no known reason</h3><p>A person with ARFID may complain of having no appetite but without a medical or psychological condition to explain it (e.g., migraine, infection or depression).</p><h3>Eating very slowly</h3><p>People with ARFID may consistently eat very slowly or be unable to finish what is served.</p><h3>Difficulty eating meals with family or friends</h3><p>Because of the problems with eating, young people with ARFID may have difficulty taking part in normal social activities, such as eating with friends and family members and maintaining relationships with others.</p><p>Other behavioural signs of ARFID include:</p><ul><li>lack of interest in eating or food</li><li>anxiety</li></ul><h2>Physical signs of ARFID</h2><h3>No longer gaining weight</h3><p>As children are growing, they should always be getting bigger. Clear signs that a child has stopped growing or gaining weight include not needing to wear bigger clothing or shoes. </p><h3>Losing weight</h3><p>Because teens stop growing eventually, ARFID is more likely to be suspected in this age group if someone loses weight. If your teen is losing weight, they should be evaluated by their health-care provider.</p><h3>No growth or delayed growth</h3><p>Children with this disorder may not grow as expected.</p><p>Other physical signs of ARFID include:</p><ul><li>showing signs of malnutrition such as:</li><ul><li>feeling cold all the time</li><li>dizziness</li><li>low energy</li><li>changes in how the heart works </li><li>dehydration</li><li>delayed or stopped menstrual periods</li></ul></ul><h2>How ARFID is diagnosed</h2><p>Before diagnosing ARFID, your child’s health-care provider should assess your child for a physical disorder that can have similar signs and symptoms.</p><p>A health-care provider will do a complete history (medical, nutritional and psychosocial history) and a thorough physical examination including:</p><ul><li>weight and height (plotting measurement on a growth curve)</li><li>blood pressure and heart rate both lying and standing</li><li>temperature</li><li>assessment of puberty</li></ul><p>They may also do some initial tests including laboratory studies to check the blood and urine for abnormalities, including nutritional deficiencies, and an <a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=1276&language=English">electrocardiogram</a> to check how the heart is functioning.</p><p>Physical disorders that can cause weight loss (or lack of growth or weight gain) include digestive tract disorders that reduce the ability to absorb nutrients from food, hormonal problems such as <a href="/diabetes">diabetes</a> and other serious conditions such as cancer.</p><p>Your child's health-care provider should also consider other mental health conditions that can cause weight loss, such as <a href="/Article?contentid=19&language=English">depression</a>, <a href="/Article?contentid=18&language=English">anxiety</a>, schizophrenia and other eating disorders such as <a href="/Article?contentid=268&language=English">anorexia nervosa</a> or <a href="/Article?contentid=282&language=English">bulimia nervosa</a>.</p><h3>Symptoms that <em>do not</em> lead to an ARFID diagnosis</h3><p>ARFID is <em>not diagnosed</em> in a child or teen if their symptoms can be explained by:</p><ul><li>lack of available food, for example if they live in poverty</li><li>cultural practice, for example if they fast during Ramadan or Yom Kippur</li><li>another medical condition such as <a href="/diabetes">diabetes</a> or <a href="/Article?contentid=923&language=English">Crohn's disease​</a></li><li>a mental health disorder or eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.</li></ul><h2>At SickKids</h2><p>SickKids has an eating disorder program that treats children and teens who are struggling with symptoms of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. For more information on our program visit: <a href="http://www.sickkids.ca/adolescentmedicine/eating-disorders-program">www.sickkids.ca/adolescentmedicine/eating-disorders-program</a></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=274&language=English">ARFID: Overview</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></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</h2><p> <a href="http://www.nedic.ca/" target="_blank">NEDIC – National Eating Disorder Information Centre</a> (Canada)<br></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><p> <a href="https://anad.org/">ANAD – National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders</a> (United States)</p>
Trouble d’alimentation sélective et/ou d’évitement : signes avant-coureursTTrouble d’alimentation sélective et/ou d’évitement : signes avant-coureursAvoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Warning signs and symptomsFrenchPsychiatryToddler (13-24 months);Preschooler (2-4 years);School age child (5-8 years);Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)NANAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2016-02-02T05:00:00Z000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Découvrez les principaux signes avant-coureurs et symptômes de l’ARFID et les raisons de ne pas poser un diagnostic d’ARFID.</p><p><a href="/Article?contentid=274&language=French">Le trouble d’alimentation sélective et/ou d’évitement (ARFID)</a> peut entraîner de <a href="/Article?contentid=273&language=French">graves complications nécessitant un suivi médical</a>. Consultez le médecin de votre enfant s’il manifeste l’un ou l’autre des signes avant-coureurs ou des symptômes décrits ci-dessous.</p><h2>À retenir</h2> <ul> <li>L’enfant touché par l’AFRID manifestera divers signes avant-coureurs physiques ou comportementaux.</li> <li>Parmi les signes comportementaux les plus courants, signalons un refus soudain de s’alimenter, la peur de s’étouffer et la difficulté de manger des repas en présence d’autres personnes.</li> <li>Parmi les signes physiques, signalons un retard de croissance et, selon l’âge de l’enfant, une perte de poids ou l’absence de prise de poids.</li> <li>Le médecin ne posera pas un diagnostic d’ARFID lorsque les symptômes de l’enfant peuvent s’expliquer par une pratique culturelle, un manque de nourriture ou si la perte de poids, le cas échéant, peut s’expliquer par une maladie physique ou un trouble de santé mentale.</li> </ul><h2>Signes comportementaux de l’ARFID</h2> <h3>Le refus soudain de consommer certains aliments</h3> <p>L’enfant touché par l’ARFID peut cesser de consommer des aliments qu’il mangeait pourtant auparavant.</p> <h3>La peur de s’étouffer ou de vomir</h3> <p>L’enfant touché par l’ARFID peut refuser de consommer certains aliments de crainte de s’étouffer ou qu’ils le feront vomir.</p> <h3>Une perte d’appétit sans raison apparente</h3> <p>L’enfant touché par l’ARFID peut manifester une perte d’appétit sans que cela puisse s’expliquer par une maladie ou un trouble psychologique connus (une migraine, une infection, une dépression, etc.).</p> <h3>Manger très lentement</h3> <p>L’enfant touché par l’ARFID peut se mettre à manger très lentement ou être incapable de finir son assiette.</p> <h3>La difficulté de manger des repas en famille ou avec des amis</h3> <p>En raison de ses problèmes d’alimentation, un jeune aux prises avec l’ARFID peut trouver difficile de prendre part à des activités sociales courantes, par exemple manger en compagnie d’amis ou en famille, ou maintenir des relations sociales.</p> <h2>Signes physiques de l’ARFID</h2> <h3>L’enfant ne prend plus de poids</h3> <p>Durant sa croissance, l’enfant devrait normalement grandir et prendre du poids. Parmi les signes témoignant manifestement d’un arrêt de croissance ou de la prise de poids, l’enfant n’a plus besoin de porter des vêtements ou des souliers plus grands.</p> <h3>Une perte de poids</h3> <p>Puisque les adolescents cessent éventuellement de grandir, une perte de poids est plus couramment associée à l’ARFID dans ce groupe d’âge. Si votre ado semble avoir perdu du poids, consultez votre médecin de famille afin qu’il lui fasse passer un examen médical.</p> <h3>Un arrêt ou un retard de croissance</h3> <p>L’enfant touché par l’ARFID peut ne pas présenter une croissance normale.</p><h2>Le diagnostic de l’ARFID</h2> <p>Avant de poser un diagnostic d’ARFID, le médecin devrait tout d’abord vérifier si votre enfant ne souffre pas d’un trouble physique pouvant présenter des signes et des symptômes semblables à ceux de l’ARFID. Parmi les troubles physiques pouvant causer une perte de poids, un arrêt de croissance ou l’absence de prise de poids chez l’enfant, signalons les troubles de l’appareil digestif diminuant l’aptitude de digérer les nutriments présents dans les aliments, des problèmes hormonaux comme <a href="/Article?contentid=937&language=French">le diabète</a>, ou un autre état maladif grave comme le cancer.</p> <p>Le médecin devrait également tenir compte de l’intervention possible d’autres problèmes de santé mentale pouvant occasionner une perte de poids, notamment la dépression, l’anxiété, la schizophrénie et d’autres types de troubles de l’alimentation comme l’<a href="/Article?contentid=268&language=French">anorexie nerveuse</a> ou la <a href="/Article?contentid=282&language=French">boulimie nerveuse</a>.</p> <h3>Symptômes <em>ne menant pas</em> à un diagnostic d’ARFID</h3> <p>Un diagnostic d’ARFID ne sera pas posé chez l’enfant ou l’adolescent dont les symptômes peuvent s’expliquer par divers autres facteurs, dont :</p> <ul> <li>un manque de nourriture adéquate, par exemple si la famille vit en situation de pauvreté,</li> <li>les pratiques culturelles, par exemple le jeûne à l’occasion du ramadan ou du Yom Kippour,</li> <li>une autre affection médicale, comme le diabète ou <a href="/Article?contentid=923&language=French">la maladie de Crohn</a>,</li> <li>un trouble de santé mentale ou un trouble de l’alimentation, comme l’anorexie nerveuse ou la boulimie nerveuse.</li> </ul><h2>En savoir plus</h2><p>Pour plus d’informations sur trouble d’alimentation sélective et/ou d’évitement (ARFID), consultez les pages suivantes:</p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=274&language=French">L’ARFID: présentation générale</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=273&language=French">L’ARFID: complications médicales</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=703&language=French">L’ARFID: options de traitements</a> </p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=272&language=French">L’ARFID: comment aider votre enfant à la maison</a></p><h2>Ressources</h2><p> <a href="http://www.nedic.ca/" target="_blank">NEDIC – Centre d’information sur les troubles alimentaires</a> (Canada)</p><p> <a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/">NEDA – Association nationale des troubles alimentaires</a> (États-Unis)</p><p>L'académie américaine de pédiatrie – <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 – Lutter contre les troubles alimentaires</a> (Royaume Uni)</p><p> <a href="https://keltyeatingdisorders.ca/" target="_blank">Troubles alimentaires Kelty</a> (Centre de ressources sur la santé mentale Kelty, Hôpital pour enfants de la Colombie-Britannique)</p><p>Le Centre hospitalier pour enfants de l’est de l’Ontario – <a href="https://www.cheo.on.ca/fr/troubles_alimentaires_info" target="_blank"> <em>Troubles de l'alimentation</em></a></p>

 

 

 

 

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Signs and symptoms275.000000000000Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Signs and symptomsAvoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Signs and symptomsAEnglishPsychiatryToddler (13-24 months);Preschooler (2-4 years);School age child (5-8 years);Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)NANAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2023-09-12T04:00:00Z12.400000000000042.3000000000000796.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Learn the main signs and symptoms of ARFID and when ARFID may not be diagnosed.</p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=274&language=English">Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)</a> can cause serious <a href="/Article?contentid=273&language=English">complications that require medical attention </a> . See your child's health-care provider if your child displays any of the signs or symptoms outlined below.</p><h2>Key points</h2> <ul> <li>A child with ARFID will display a range of physical and behavioural warning signs.</li> <li>Behavioural signs include a sudden refusal to eat, a fear of choking and difficulty eating meals with others.</li> <li>Physical signs include delayed growth and, depending on your child's age, weight loss or failure to gain weight.</li> <li>Doctors will not diagnose ARFID if a child's symptoms can be explained by cultural practice or lack of access to food or if a child's weight loss can be explained by a physical condition or other mental health disorder.</li> </ul><h2>Behavioural signs of ARFID</h2><h3>Sudden refusal to eat foods</h3><p>A person with ARFID may no longer eat food that they ate previously.</p><h3>Fear of choking or vomiting</h3><p>People with ARFID may refuse certain foods for fear that they will make them choke or vomit.</p><h3>Losing appetite for no known reason</h3><p>A person with ARFID may complain of having no appetite but without a medical or psychological condition to explain it (e.g., migraine, infection or depression).</p><h3>Eating very slowly</h3><p>People with ARFID may consistently eat very slowly or be unable to finish what is served.</p><h3>Difficulty eating meals with family or friends</h3><p>Because of the problems with eating, young people with ARFID may have difficulty taking part in normal social activities, such as eating with friends and family members and maintaining relationships with others.</p><p>Other behavioural signs of ARFID include:</p><ul><li>lack of interest in eating or food</li><li>anxiety</li></ul><h2>Physical signs of ARFID</h2><h3>No longer gaining weight</h3><p>As children are growing, they should always be getting bigger. Clear signs that a child has stopped growing or gaining weight include not needing to wear bigger clothing or shoes. </p><h3>Losing weight</h3><p>Because teens stop growing eventually, ARFID is more likely to be suspected in this age group if someone loses weight. If your teen is losing weight, they should be evaluated by their health-care provider.</p><h3>No growth or delayed growth</h3><p>Children with this disorder may not grow as expected.</p><p>Other physical signs of ARFID include:</p><ul><li>showing signs of malnutrition such as:</li><ul><li>feeling cold all the time</li><li>dizziness</li><li>low energy</li><li>changes in how the heart works </li><li>dehydration</li><li>delayed or stopped menstrual periods</li></ul></ul><h2>How ARFID is diagnosed</h2><p>Before diagnosing ARFID, your child’s health-care provider should assess your child for a physical disorder that can have similar signs and symptoms.</p><p>A health-care provider will do a complete history (medical, nutritional and psychosocial history) and a thorough physical examination including:</p><ul><li>weight and height (plotting measurement on a growth curve)</li><li>blood pressure and heart rate both lying and standing</li><li>temperature</li><li>assessment of puberty</li></ul><p>They may also do some initial tests including laboratory studies to check the blood and urine for abnormalities, including nutritional deficiencies, and an <a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=1276&language=English">electrocardiogram</a> to check how the heart is functioning.</p><p>Physical disorders that can cause weight loss (or lack of growth or weight gain) include digestive tract disorders that reduce the ability to absorb nutrients from food, hormonal problems such as <a href="/diabetes">diabetes</a> and other serious conditions such as cancer.</p><p>Your child's health-care provider should also consider other mental health conditions that can cause weight loss, such as <a href="/Article?contentid=19&language=English">depression</a>, <a href="/Article?contentid=18&language=English">anxiety</a>, schizophrenia and other eating disorders such as <a href="/Article?contentid=268&language=English">anorexia nervosa</a> or <a href="/Article?contentid=282&language=English">bulimia nervosa</a>.</p><h3>Symptoms that <em>do not</em> lead to an ARFID diagnosis</h3><p>ARFID is <em>not diagnosed</em> in a child or teen if their symptoms can be explained by:</p><ul><li>lack of available food, for example if they live in poverty</li><li>cultural practice, for example if they fast during Ramadan or Yom Kippur</li><li>another medical condition such as <a href="/diabetes">diabetes</a> or <a href="/Article?contentid=923&language=English">Crohn's disease​</a></li><li>a mental health disorder or eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.</li></ul><h2>At SickKids</h2><p>SickKids has an eating disorder program that treats children and teens who are struggling with symptoms of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. For more information on our program visit: <a href="http://www.sickkids.ca/adolescentmedicine/eating-disorders-program">www.sickkids.ca/adolescentmedicine/eating-disorders-program</a></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=274&language=English">ARFID: Overview</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></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</h2><p> <a href="http://www.nedic.ca/" target="_blank">NEDIC – National Eating Disorder Information Centre</a> (Canada)<br></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><p> <a href="https://anad.org/">ANAD – National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders</a> (United States)</p><img alt="" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/Avoidant_restrictive_warning_signs.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/Avoidant_restrictive_warning_signs.jpgAvoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID): Signs and symptomsFalse

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