Understanding ARFID: A Growing Concern in Pediatric Nutrition

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an increasingly recognized eating disorder that presents unique challenges in pediatric care. Unlike anorexia or bulimia, ARFID is not rooted in body image concerns, but in food avoidance or restriction due to sensory sensitivities, lack of interest in food, or fear of adverse outcomes like choking. This comprehensive Danone Nutricia Campus (DNC) fact sheet offers healthcare professionals a detailed overview of ARFID, including its diagnostic criteria, subtypes, clinical presentations, and both short- and long-term medical consequences.

Why This Resource Is Essential for HCPs

This expertly designed fact sheet provides actionable insights and tools to help you:

• Distinguish ARFID from picky eating using clear comparative criteria.

• Understand diagnostic features as outlined in DSM-5.

• Recognize key clinical symptoms and nutritional deficiencies.

• Learn about evidence-based management strategies, including food chaining, meal planning with “safe” foods, and behavioral exposure techniques.

• Appreciate the importance of a multidisciplinary approach (MDT) in treating ARFID.

This resource is particularly valuable for pediatricians, dietitians, psychologists, and other healthcare providers working with children presenting with eating disturbances, growth delays, or psychosocial impairment.

Download and Explore Further

View this evidence-based resource on ARFID directly from Danone Nutricia Campus. This practical and educational publication will enhance your clinical practice and deepen your understanding of this complex disorder. More clinical guidance, examples, and management strategies are available in the full document.