WHAT IS AVOIDANT RESTRICTIVE FOOD INTAKE DISORDER (ARFID)?
ARFID is the second-most common eating disorder in children under 12 years old.
It is categorized as extreme picky eating.
The common signs are food refusal, anxiety, underweight or slow growth.
A child may have a short list of acceptable foods and skip one or more entire food groups.
This can lead to weight loss, nutrient deficiencies, growth disturbances, and social anxiety.
The onset of ARFID may be due to a form of food-related trauma including a negative experience with eating such as choking, gagging or vomiting.
An estimated 3 per cent of the general population suffers from ARFID