Specialist area:
ARFID stands for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
This term refers to individuals who present with a severely restricted diet and usually a narrow range of foods are eaten. This may be because of the taste, appearance or feel of the food (sensory factors), it may be because of lack of appetite (low interest in food), or due to previous negative experience, pain, vomiting or choking, (fear avoidance).
Who do specialist ARFID dietitians help?
A suspected or confirmed ARFID diagnosis may present to several different services. You may see a dietitian who is familiar with working with ARFID.
An individual with ARFID may be seen in a specialist ARFID or eating disorder service, with an experienced dietitian working as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside other professionals such as doctors, psychologists, occupational therapists, and nurses.
Or you may be seen in a stand-alone dietetic clinic where the dietitian will be particularly focusing on food and drink intake and assessing how adequate your diet is. Nutritional deficiencies and or growth concerns may be present, and the dietitian will provide guidance and support in addressing these.
You may avoid social eating and are unable to eat outside of the home or your intake is severely limited when eating elsewhere due to environmental and sensory factors. Your dietitian can help if social eating and eating outside of the home are challenging.
How do specialist ARFID dietitians work?
ARFID is unique to each person, having gained an understanding of your needs, your ARFID dietitian will support you to manage your condition by providing education and resources. This will go at a pace which works for you and may include tiny and planned exposure to new foods and specific changes to your food and drink or may involve adding nutritional supplements.
Any recommend changes will be discussed carefully with you. The advice will be based on identified nutritional deficiencies, blood results (if available), weight and growth.
You may see your dietitian one-to-one or in group sessions and these might be aimed at your parents only.
Further info:
The BDA ARFID Sub-Group does not give advice directly to individual members of the public. Please find help via your local healthcare provider.
The following charities support professionals, patients, and their families: ARFID Awareness UK and BEAT.