Understanding Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: Could selective intake be a problem?

A Quick Guide

Children tend to be naturally picky eaters. It’s no surprise that a child may not want to eat their veggies or that they naturally gravitate towards sugary items etc. This is considered normal. But if your child is more than just a fussy eater, it might be time to look into their eating habits. It could be a very specific type of selective eating. 

Though it can also be found in adults as well. Approximately 9% of the population worldwide is affected by different eating disorders including Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder ARFID. This selective intake is more than just fad diets, it is a serious mental health condition that we need to be aware of.

So then let us try to understand, what is considered selective eating. Selective eating falls under the category of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder ARFID.

Understanding Selective Eating in Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder ARFID

ARFID is a serious eating disorder and could potentially become life-threatening. It does not only affect children but can also be found in adults as well. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder ARFID is similar to anorexia nervosa in the sense of selective intake but not for the same reasons. 

While people with anorexia nervosa may have an issue with their body weight or shape, those with ARFID may develop selective eating or disturbed feeding patterns or both due to sensory aversions to particular tastes, smells, textures, or at times even swallowing.

This restricted or selective intake can lead someone with ARFID to not obtain their daily calorie requirements. And in kids, this may result in slow growth and weight gain. 

What are the types of Selective Eating in Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder?

Fear of Adverse Effects: It includes fear of sickness, choking, nausea, and allergies which can result in a person avoiding food.

Lack of interest: People with this kind of ARFID genuinely have no interest in eating or in food in general. Also, they eat quickly.

Sensory Aversion: People with sensory aversion have problems with the odors, tastes, and temperatures of food.

How to know if someone has Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder ARFID?

Here is how you can figure out if someone has ARFID, they might exhibit the following symptoms: 

• Aversion of certain foods based on their flavor, color, texture, or group of foods
• Difficulty chewing food
• Difficulty with a certain type of food’s digestion
• Experiencing anxiety when faced with food that induces fear
• Extreme fussiness in food selection
• Extremely few quantities are consumed
• Gagging or frequent vomiting following exposure to particular foods
• Loss of weight in adults and an inability to gain weight in kids
• Loss of appetite
• Reliance on a feeding tube, dietary supplements, or both
• Social isolation

What are the health complications associated with ARFID? 

If left untreated, ARFID can have serious health complications such as: 

• Co-occurring anxiety disorders
• Developmental delays
• Failure to gain weight in children
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Malnutrition
• Weight Loss

What are the treatment steps for ARFID?

Some treatment steps might include the following: 

• An individual meal plan is prepared by a dietician.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT can help in understanding underlying feelings toward food and eating.
• Consultations with a psychologist or psychiatrist to manage other mental health issues that might affect ARFID
• Dietary supplements on prescription.
• Prescription medications for anxiety or to regulate hunger.
• Speech therapy to improve eating-related motor skills.

We hope you found this article useful in understanding more about the selective intake pattern in Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder ARFID. 

Check out our other article: Understanding Types Of Food Phobias & Their Treatment