Eating Disorders

Written by: Emily Bulger, MSW, LGSW

Picky eating is a common behavior found in many young children. Characteristics of picky eating include eating a limited variety of foods, refusal of foods due to their sensory characteristics, and the unwillingness to try new foods.

While picky eating is a common feature of childhood development, there is importance in knowing when therapeutic intervention may be needed. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disturbance caused by the lack of interest in food, the avoidance of food due to sensory components, or the fear of aversive consequences (choking, vomiting, and/or allergic reactions)

Common symptoms of ARFID include:

• Significant weight loss or failure to maintain expected weight gain
• Nutritional deficiency
• Dependence on nutritional supplements
• Noticeable interference with psychosocial functioning

Additional warning signs of ARFID may include significant distress and anxiety when introduced to a new food, discomfort while eating in social situations, failure to notice hunger and fullness signals, eating at a slower pace, complaints of abdominal distress after eating, and the lack of interest in foods that have been previously enjoyed.

Five types of ARFID:

• Avoidant (avoidance due to sensory characteristics)
• Aversive (fear of choking, vomiting, or allergic reactions)
• Restrictive (significant lack of interest in food or eating)
• Adult ARFID
• ARFID Plus (development of Anorexia Nervosa features)

Therapists at Ballard Clinic can help treat Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder with the exposure to new foods, supporting the change in eating behaviors, and encouraging the development of coping mechanisms for emotional regulation when exposed to new foods or eating in social situations.