Everything to know about ARFID, the little-known eating disorder that impacts kids of all ages.
frequently avoid foods with specific tastes, textures, and/or colors. Some have extremely low interest in eating in general, while others have an extreme fear of pain, choking, or vomiting that prevents them from eating or limits them to certain types of foods.
Like anorexia nervosa, children with ARFID "share symptoms in that nutritional needs are not met in both disorders," says Dansie. "A child with ARFID does not consume enough calories to grow and develop. Typically, a child with ARFID loses weight or stops gaining weight. Vertical growth is stalled as well. However, individuals with anorexia experience great distress regarding their size and shape. This distress is not present in individuals with ARFID.
While picky eaters might try a bit of food to appease the person asking or eat around specific items they don't like in favor of ones they do, ARFID is characterized by severe anxiety or discomfort around trying foods or even being near them, says Dansie. Though the specific time frame varies from child to child, she notes that children with picky eating habits that do not improve are more likely to develop ARFID. It tends to develop at a younger age than other eating disorders.
"Treatment for ARFID varies, but it typically involves supporting the child and their family," says Dansie. "With the help of family members and caregivers and a therapist or dietitian, a child can begin to expand foods they are comfortable with using strategically planned exposures. Exposures start with foods and textures the child is very comfortable with and slowly become more challenging as the child builds confidence.
It might sound overwhelming, but you're not alone. Your child's pediatrician and/or school counselor can help you find a specialist to suit their specific needs, which will set the course toward recovery. As with other eating disorders, recoverywhat's
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