(ThyBlackMan.com) Most eating disorders are easily characterized and oftentimes easy to point out thanks to ongoing media attention and education efforts, but there is one eating disorder that is relatively unknown: ARFID. Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), which is sometimes simply referred to as Selective Eating Disorder (SED), is one of the most recently listed eating disorder subtypes, and commonly treated in eating disorder treatment centers. A lot of parents with concerns have questions about this condition. Take a look at some of the common questions associated with ARFID, selective eating disorder treatment, and more.
How Common Is ARFID?
ARFID is less studied than bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa, so there are relatively few numbers to go by when trying to understand the prevalence of the disorder. In one study of adolescents in eating disorder recovery in a specialist clinic, about 14 percent of the clients met the diagnosing criteria for ARFID, according to the National Eating Disorder Association.
It is suspected that ARFID is underdiagnosed because many people simply assume that their child is a picky eater. However, those children who do truly need eating disorder support have issues that go far deeper than just being picky about what they eat. Most will avoid certain types of food to a point that it causes them problems with being malnourished or have other health issues.
Who Does ARFID Affect the Most?
ARFID does affect both males and females, but it tends to be an issue that is present in males the most. In addition, younger children seem to be more at risk than older children, as the condition will oftentimes improve with age and maturity. About 20 percent of children with ARFID also have an autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, about 20 percent of children with ARFID avoid certain foods because of sensory issues.
Is ARFID a Mental Illness?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM V) does include ARFID as an eating disorder, and eating disorders are considered to be a mental disorder. About a third of children who need eating disorder support in an eating disorder treatment center also have other mood disorders. For example, three out of four also have an anxiety disorder in addition to ARFID.
What Causes ARFID?
For children with something like anorexia or bulimia, the underlying drive is often a fear of eating foods because they fear to gain weight or looking a certain way. However, ARFID is unique from other eating disorders because it is usually relative to something else entirely. It is suspected that anxiety may be a major contributing factor for the disorder, and certain phobias also come into play. For instance, half of the children who need selective eating disorder treatment avoid eating certain foods because they are afraid of choking or vomiting.
What Does Selective Eating Disorder Treatment Involve?
If your child enters an eating disorder treatment center after they are diagnosed with ARFID, their treatment can involve multiple levels of therapeutic care. Eating disorder support for ARFID typically involves cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, food and nutrition counseling, and family therapy. The recovery process is usually individually catered to the child, so every eating disorder recovery journey can be different.
Monte Nido is one of the nation’s leading eating disorder treatment centers with multiple locations across the country. If you are afraid that your child is dealing with a selective eating disorder, reach out to us to speak with one of our compassionate staff members about the programs we have available that could help.
Staff Writer; Doug Foster