Feeding and Eating Disorders

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a newly defined disorder that describes rigid eating behavior that results in weight loss, nutritional deficiency, or psychosocial problems in individuals who are not preoccupied with shape or weight.

Avoidance/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a newly defined diagnostic category in the DSM-5, that describes eating behavior that results in impairment in growth, nutrition or social interactions that is different from eating disorders related to body image. For example, individuals who fear choking, and then refuse to eat and lose weight due to that fear, would meet the criteria of ARFID. In children and adolescents, phobias of choking or vomiting are not uncommon and can lead to loss of weight and failure to thrive. The new ARFID category also includes many individuals already receiving treatment at our clinic for specific phobias, OCD and other anxiety disorders.