ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Intake Disorder)
ARFID, formerly known as Selective Eating, is a new diagnosis in the DSM-5. ARFID and Ano-rexia Nervosa share similarities in that there are limitations in the amount and/or types of food consumed. Unlike Anorexia, those suffering from ARFID do not have an intense drive for thin-ness and fear of gaining weight. ARFID is more than just "picky eating", something that many experience through childhood.
SYMPTOMS/WARNING SIGNS:
- Lack of interest in variety of food
- Avoidance of certain foods based on their sensory characteristics
- Concern about consequences of eating
- Willing to only eat certain textures/colors of food
- Fear of choking or vomiting
- Constant complaints of feeling full or not hungry around mealtime
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping
- Menstrual irregularities, for females
- Failure to achieve expected weight gain
- Decreased growth in children