Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

Someone with ARFID and someone with Anorexia may have similar presentations and so it can be easy to confuse the two. Both disorders result in a significant restriction of food intake and sometimes fear around food. Due to this chronic restriction of food, people with ARFID or Anorexia may experience similar symptoms.

ARFID differs from Anorexia in that the motivations for avoiding food are not surrounding body image, body size or self-esteem. In fact, someone with ARFID may wish to gain weight but find they cannot, due to their adverse reaction to eating or swallowing.

ARFID can develop as a result of gastrointestinal issues, food allergies, a history of vomiting or choking or aversion to the sensory qualities of food. The reasons for developing ARFID are as unique to the individual as the individual is themselves.  

• You may feel confused or stuck in your behaviour and not able to change, despite wanting to.
• You may feel trapped by your aversion to the sensory experiences of eating or fears of vomiting or choking
• You may be avoiding eating as a fear response

ARFID can often develop at a young age. As a child, emotional disturbances and negative experiences are difficult to process and express. When we are young, we are rarely taught how to label, process or talk about how we are feeling. 

What might begin as slightly ‘picky’ eating can develop into a way of expressing an emotional difficulty. 

As an adult, ARFID can also be a way of dealing with unresolved difficulties. A difficult internal struggle can often be expressed in unexpected ways, this is often a process that occurs outside of our conscious awareness.