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Children with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) are so picky that their eating habits affect their health, growth, social life and family life. At Children’s Health℠, we help families get the skills and confidence to help their child eat a wider variety of foods, so they can grow and thrive.
ARFID is different from other eating disorders because children with ARFID aren’t worried about being thin. Their anxiety is not about their body, it’s about food. Children with ARFID struggle to eat a variety of foods. And parents of children with ARFID struggle to know how to help.
ARFID often starts in young children who don’t eat properly, often affecting their growth. Their extreme picky eating means they don’t get all the nutrients they need. This can make doctors and parents worry about their child’s health. And it can make dinner invitations, outings and school meals stressful.
ARFID can affect a child’s health, mood, behavior and energy level. As children get older, ARFID can also impact their social life. It gets harder to do fun things like attend parties, go to camp or have a sleepover.
There are three different types of ARFID:
When children have a medical problem (like Crohn’s disease or cancer) that triggers a change in their eating
When children struggle with the color, texture, smell and taste of different foods
When children have a traumatic event that changes their eating habits. These events may include things such as a choking episode.
The first sign that you – or your child’s doctor – may notice is that your child isn’t gaining enough weight for their age or height because they’re not getting enough nutrients.
Boys and girls with ARFID may also show some of these signs at mealtimes:
You might also notice some social and emotional signs. A child with ARFID may:
One of our doctors will do a physical exam and ask questions about your child’s health history. We want to make sure your child doesn’t have a physical problem that affects how they eat.
For example, some children have jaw muscles that aren’t strong enough to chew well. Others may have problems swallowing. These problems may be causing or contributing to their eating problems. In those cases, we’ll connect you to the right specialist who can help, like an occupational therapist (OT), speech therapist or gastroenterologist.
We’ll also ask questions about your child’s behavior and eating habits. This helps us get a full picture of just how much your child’s picky eating affects their health and well-being.
Many parents think, “I must have caused this to happen.” But you are not the cause and you can be part of the solution.
ARFID often starts in young children and can have one or more of these causes:
Some children just aren’t very interested in food from an early age. They get full quickly. And they have growth issues from eating so little.
Some children eat normal amounts of foods, but only foods with certain textures or tastes. Many of these children are “supertasters” who can taste flavors that other kids can’t. This can make certain foods taste strange.
If a child chokes on food or watches someone else choke, it can make them scared to eat. Sometimes a bad stomach bug can cause a child to refuse to eat long after they get better.
Children who have the following might start avoiding food because it makes them feel sick. And children who feel sick to their stomach from medical treatments can sometimes develop ARFID.
ARFID affects a child’s body and mind and is best treated by a team of specialists who work together to address every aspect of your child’s health.
Children and families who take part in our four-week ARFID treatment program benefit from:
Addresses behavior and eating habits, stressful or traumatic events, and identify any other mental health or physical issues. We use games and fun activities to connect with younger children. We also help you create a behavior plan to motivate your child to expand what they’ll eat.
To help children and teens overcome fears around food and support each other in the process. We have separate groups for younger children and teens.
To help you connect with other families with children who have ARFID, so you can share tips, tricks and struggles.
To learn exactly which textures, odors, temperatures and colors may trigger your child.
To help children connect to their bodies and their feelings through art, music and recreation therapy.
To help your child slowly experience new foods, one bite at a time. We understand your child’s anxiety that can be caused by eating certain foods.
to help with problems like anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, self-injury or PTSD. These problems can contribute to ARFID.
To teach parents how to set limits and motivate their child. We’ll empower you to continue the work of expanding what your child eats and help you to feel confident in your ability to manage your child’s eating problems at home.
Our specialists include:
Doctors that can diagnose and treat mental health and physical problems. Some children with ARFID may have other mental health diagnosis such as anxiety or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Provides individual, group and family therapy.
Oversees any medical care your child may need.
Provides nursing care and support to your child throughout their treatment.
Works with you to know what foods to add to your child’s diet, and make sure your child is getting the nutrients they need to be healthy.
Provides daily, ongoing guidance and support for all your child’s activities. They accompany your child in the hospital all day and provide continuous support and companionship.
Works with your child to help them get better at finding and trying new foods they’ll like.
Helps your child process feelings in creative ways.
Brings smiles, companionship and calm to children who like dogs.
At Children’s Health, your child will receive expert, compassionate care from a range of specialists trained specifically in treatments for ARFID.
No. We’ve been treating ARFID for decades, and AFRID became its own diagnostic category in 2013. As more people became aware of ARFID, it led us to develop our specialized ARFID treatment program.
Studies show that at least 3% of 8 to 13-year-olds have ARFID. The number continues to rise as more people learn more about its signs and symptoms.
This strategy doesn’t always work with ARFID. Children with ARFID sometimes simply won’t eat. After we help determine what’s behind your child’s difficult eating, we’ll help you develop a plan for your child, so they get the nutrition they need.
Many preschool-aged children can be picky eaters. Maybe they won’t eat foods that are green or foods with certain textures. Usually, children grow out of these behaviors. But children with ARFID tend to get even pickier over time. The earlier you get treatment, the sooner you can help your child.
Possibly, but that’s not our goal. Our goal is to set you on a path where your child is eating more types of foods and is less anxious about food. We’ll give you the tools you need to continue on this path, tools that can help your child enjoy family meals, school and being with friends.
National Eating Disorders Association: