Written by:

Medically Reviewed by:

Dr Mateen Durrani – MBBS, DPM, MSc, BCPsych

Last Updated:

February 14th, 2025

ARFID

Not all eating disorders look the same. While anorexia and bulimia often take the spotlight, there is another condition that impacts many people and is just as serious: Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. ARFID can appear to be just a fussiness about food, but in reality, it can make every meal a traumatic experience. Banbury Lodge is Liberty House’s partner centre, specialising in eating disorders, including ARFID. With the right support, you can begin to ease the anxieties around eating, turn around any harm done to your health and become friends with food again.

What is ARFID?

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder driven by extreme avoidance of certain foods due to texture, colour or smell or a fear of eating-related harm such as choking or feeling sick.
The term “ARFID” has only been recognised since 2013, replacing the older label “Selective Eating Disorder.” This is quite common among mental health conditions with older names being replaced as we learn more about how they work and the harm they cause.
ARFID isn’t about body image or a fear of gaining weight, but for those with ARFID, meals can still become a source of enormous stress and anxiety. If ARFID treatment is not sought quickly, it can lead to nutritional gaps and difficulty socialising where food is involved.
Although ARFID is mostly identified in children and teenagers, adults can experience it too. Sadly, the condition is often misunderstood or dismissed, leaving many people to suffer in silence far longer than they need to.

What are the signs of ARFID?

As we will see, there are a few different ARFID types with slightly different symptoms. However, being able to spot the general signs of ARFID is usually the first step in recognising help is needed:

Weight loss or poor weight gain
Feeling weak or tired because you’re not getting the nutrients your body needs
Stomach problems like pain or nausea after eating
Using supplements or shakes to replace meals
Avoiding meals with family or friends because eating feels too stressful
Feeling really anxious or upset when certain foods are in front of you
Constantly worrying about food or what you’re going to eat
Children not growing or developing as they should

If you spot any of these symptoms of ARFID then you should seek a professional medical diagnosis.

What are the types of ARFID?

ARFID isn’t a one-size-fits-all condition, and once you have recognised the general signs of ARFID, a more accurate diagnosis can be made. It shows up in different ways, and recognising the varying symptoms of ARFID can help you understand which type you have:

Sensory-Sensitive ARFID

For people with sensory-sensitive ARFID, food can feel unbearable because of how it looks, smells or feels. It’s not just about being “fussy” – the wrong texture or colour can cause intense anxiety, making it hard even to try certain foods.

Conditioned ARFID

Sometimes, ARFID develops after a bad experience with food, like choking or being sick when you are a child. That fear doesn’t go away easily, and it can lead to a fear of certain foods (or even the act of eating itself) to avoid the risk of it happening again.

Avoidant ARFID

A general disinterest in food drives Avoidant ARFID. You might not feel hungry or lack any motivation to eat. Because it only sometimes feels like a problem to the person experiencing it, Avoidant ARFID can often go unnoticed, making it especially tricky to treat.

What causes ARFID?

ARFID doesn’t have one clear cause, and it is usually a mix of things that come together over time. Here are some common ones that are thought to play a role:

Your genes

If someone in your family has had similar eating issues, your genes might make you more likely to develop ARFID, too.

Stress at home

Growing up around arguments, strict rules about eating or a tense home environment can make food feel like something to avoid. Some children might refuse to eat as a way to deal with the stress or because they connect food with negative feelings.

Painful food experiences

If eating has caused pain, like from allergies or stomach problems, it is easy to see why certain foods might become something to fear. Similarly, choking, being sick after eating or being forced to eat foods you hate can leave lasting anxiety around meals.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder

People with autism are often more sensitive to textures, smells or tastes. They may also prefer sticking to routines, which can limit their diet and increase the risk of ARFID.

Other conditions

Mental health issues like OCD or ADHD can add extra challenges. For example, OCD might make you feel like food is dirty or unsafe, while ADHD can make it harder to focus on eating regularly.

Why is ARFID so dangerous?

ARFID can have a serious impact on both your physical health and mental well-being. Understanding these dangers helps highlight why ARFID needs proper care and treatment.

Nutritional deficiencies

When your food choices are limited, your body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs to keep you healthy. This can leave you constantly tired, prone to illnesses and struggling with low energy. For children and teens, it can even slow down growth and physical development, making it a major concern for their health.

Physical health issues

Without the right balance of food, your body can soon start to show the strain. Weakness, dizziness and extreme fatigue are common and over time, issues like brittle bones, thinning hair and dry skin can develop.

Mental health struggles

Constant worry about food can lead to anxiety, while feeling isolated or misunderstood can bring on depression. Obsessive thoughts about “safe” foods or eating habits can take over, making every meal a source of stress. In some cases, self-harm or suicidal thoughts can develop which need to be immediately addressed.

Long-term damage

If ARFID continues to go untreated, the long-term damage can be enormous. Malnutrition, organ failure and even death are all possibilities, which is why seeking help immediately is so important.

How to treat ARFID?

At Banbury Lodge, the focus is on helping you rebuild a healthy connection with food while working through the deeper issues behind ARFID.

ARFID treatment starts with a personalised meal plan that gently adds new foods to your diet at your own pace. This is done alongside nutritional counselling, where you will learn what your body needs and how to give it the right nutrients without becoming stressed or anxious.

Rehab treatment gives you the time and space to face the anxieties, fears or experiences that have shaped your eating habits. Recovery Lighthouse provides a mixture of therapies, including behavioural therapy, mindfulness and even activities like art and yoga to reframe negative thoughts about eating and start making positive changes.

Aftercare helps you carry the progress you’ve made into everyday life. Banbury Lodge offers ongoing support through weekly group therapy (100% free of charge for a year) and the invitation to join UKAT’s Alumni Network. We have regular meet-ups, social events and loads of fantastic resources to reinforce what you have achieved during treatment.

How to recover from ARFID?

When every meal feels like a battle with food, life can be truly exhausting. Banbury Lodge can help you overcome the fears and frustrations of ARFID so food can go from a source of stress to something you look forward to. Let today be the day you take that first brave step toward a healthier, happier future. Reach out to us today, and we will help you turn things around.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I help someone with ARFID?

Helping someone with ARFID starts with patience and understanding. Try not to push them to eat foods they’re uncomfortable with because that can make things worse. Instead, encourage them to talk about their feelings and listen without judgment. If they are open to it, suggest professional help like a therapist or an eating disorder specialist like Banbury Lodge. Small steps, like making meals less stressful or supporting them during appointments, can all make a big difference.

Can you die from ARFID?

ARFID itself doesn’t cause death, but the serious health problems it creates can be life-threatening if left untreated. Extreme malnutrition, significant weight loss or complications like weakened bones and organ damage can lead to severe consequences. That is why it’s so important to get the right treatment early to prevent long-term harm.

Does ARFID co-occur with other conditions?

Yes, ARFID often overlaps with other conditions. Many people with ARFID also experience anxiety, depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is also more common in people with autism or ADHD due to sensory sensitivities or struggles with routines. Understanding these connections can help in creating the right treatment plan to address all the challenges together.

(Click here to see works cited)

Beat. “ARFID – Beat.” Beat Eating Disorders, https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/about-eating-disorders/types/arfid/. Accessed 14 December 2024.
National Eating Disorders Association. “Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).” National Eating Disorders Association, 2022, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/arfid. Accessed 14 December 2024.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Table 22, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Comparison – DSM-5 Changes.” NCBI, 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519712/table/ch3.t18/. Accessed 14 December 2024.
UK Rehab. “ARFID | Eating Disorders | Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis.” UK Rehab, https://www.uk-rehab.com/eating-disorders/arfid/. Accessed 14 December 2024.