ARFID

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Treatment in Norman, Oklahoma

ARFID is a type of feeding and eating disorder which typically develops in childhood or infancy and can result in malnutrition. If untreated the symptoms of ARFID may persist into adulthood or develop into another category of eating disorder. In ARFID, the consumption of certain foods is restricted based on the foods taste, texture, smell, appearance, color or a past negative experience with the food. This then results in malnutrition or inability to maintain a healthy weight. Many types of eating problems can result in an ARFID diagnosis such as refusing to eat certain types of foods due to texture, taste or sensory issues, eating only small bites of food due to fear of choking, eating only small portions, or having no appetite. What distinguishes ARFID from other eating disorders is that there is no evidence of body image disturbance in those who suffer from ARFID, however a high level of anxiety is associated with food and meal times. Current research suggests that ARFID may be the result of sensory processing issues or even occur after a traumatic event such as a choking episode.

According to the DSM-5 criteria, to be diagnosed as having ARFID a person must display:

• An Eating or Feeding disturbance as manifested by persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs associated with one (or more) of the following:
  1. Significant loss of weight (or failure to achieve expected weight gain or faltering growth in children).
  2. Significant nutritional deficiency
  3. Dependence on enteral feeding or oral nutritional supplements
  4. Marked interference with psychosocial functioning
• The behavior is not better explained by lack of available food or by an associated culturally sanctioned practice.
• The behavior does not occur exclusively during the course of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, and there is no evidence of a disturbance in the way one’s body weight or shape is experienced.
• The eating disturbance is not attributed to a medical condition, or better explained by another mental health disorder. When is does occur in the presence of another condition/disorder, the behavior exceeds what is usually associated, and warrants additional clinical attention.

Treatment for ARFID at Living Hope will include a thorough medical and psychological evaluation by our team. Our team will then determine the level of care appropriate to help you or your loved one achieve nutritional and medical stabilization. Our team can provide structure and support to help reduce anxiety around certain foods and increase the types of foods ingested through a process of exposure.