9781422272374

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) describes a condition that was once called Selective Eating Disorder. The National Eating Disorders Association describes ARFID as being similar to anorexia because both disorders involve limitations in the amounts and/or types of consumed food. ARFID differs from anorexia in that with ARFID, the person does not feel any distress about body shape or size, and does not have fears of being fat. As they grow up, many children go through normal phases of picky eating. Some of these children will go on to have ARFID, and will not consume enough calories to grow and develop properly, resulting in stalled weight gain and stunted height. When ARFID persists into adulthood, people have severe weight loss and an inability to maintain basic body functions. People with ARFID sometimes have problems at school or work because they find it difficult to eat around other people and often need extended time to eat.

People with bulimia often overeat, called binge eating. Then, to lose the calories, the person performs self-induced vomiting.

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Behavioral Disorders: Eating Disorders