What is ARFID?

ARFID stands for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.

ARFID is a feeding and eating disorder. People who have ARFID often struggle to eat sufficient volume or variety of food. This results in compromised physical health and can impact psychosocial functioning. 

ARFID is not the same as ‘picky’ or ‘fussy’ eating. Most young children go through stages where they are resistant to try new foods or avoid previously tolerated foods. They usually grow out of this stage from watching others and learning it is safe to try new foods. Children with ARFID will experience longstanding difficulties with food and eating which cause significant concern in terms of their physical health and development or emotional wellbeing.

ARFID is different to other eating disorders in a number of ways:

  • ARFID isn't affected by thoughts or beliefs about weight or shape.
  • ARFID is not driven by a desire to lose weight, many people with ARFID will want to gain weight.
  • ARFID doesn’t involve behaviours which might be present in other eating disorders (such as over-exercising).

There are 3 main branches of difficulties that people with ARFID can experience:

1.    Sensory Sensitivity: Extreme sensitivity to how foods taste, smell, feel, look; this is more extreme than just disliking foods – foods are avoided due to textures, tastes, smells, looks etcfoods are avoided due to textures, tastes, smells, looks etc.

2.    Lack of Interest (in food):  Not feeling hungry in the way other people do, having very little interest in food, feeling that eating is a chore, getting full very easily

3.    Fear of Aversive Consequences: Some people may have had scary experiences with food, like choking, vomiting or an allergic reaction, so they avoid or stop eating those foods that they consider unsafe

AAEDS ARFID Service

The ARFID Service is part of the All Age Eating Disorder Service (AAEDS) and is for those who meet criteria for a diagnosis of ARFID.

We accept referrals for children and young people over the age of 8 and for adults. Consultation to other professionals can be offered for children under the age of 8 on a case-by-case basis.

The ARFID service offers the following time-limited and goal-focused interventions: 

  • Evidence based therapeutic interventions – psychological, dietetic and occupational therapies
  • Individual, group and parent / carer support
  • Physical health monitoring during psychological treatment
  • A discharge plan will be completed during the course of all treatments. On completion of treatment, you will be discharged from the service.

How to refer

Referral criteria:

Service Criteria

‘Avoidant or restricted eating resulting in significantly compromised physical health or severe impairment in psychosocial functioning’

If you believe you or your child/young person may have ARFID, you can seek a referral to our service.

We accept self and professional referrals for CYP aged 8-17 years old.

At present, we are only able to accept professional referrals for adults aged 18 years and over. These referrals will need to be actioned through the GP or other relevant healthcare provider (e.g. dietitian, mental health practitioner).

Referral Process

To refer to the ARFID Service, we require a 3-day food diary to be completed in advance to assist the service to understand more about the concerns. We are not able to accept referrals which do not include the 3-day food diary. You can find a copy of it here:    

3 DAY FOOD DIARY

Please ensure that you attach this to your referral as directed. Do not begin the online referral form unless you have completed this diary.

Referrals can be sent to All Age Eating Disorder Service Via our Online Referral Form

Please note that we are working on a new referral form for adults. Whilst this is in progress, please use the existing form to complete any referrals for adults. 

If you have difficulties completing the referral form, please call us on 0300 300 1980 and we will try to support you in making your referral.

What happens next

Once we receive a referral, it will be screened by one of our specialist clinicians. The service aims to call you or your referrer within 7 days – if the risk is identified as high in accordance with risk assessment and MEED guidelines, we aim to triage within 48 hours of receiving the referral. The purpose of this call is to find out more details about the eating difficulties and determine whether we are the right service for you.

If we establish that you / the person you are referring meet criteria for the service, we aim to offer an assessment within 4 weeks of referral.

Signposting and guidance will be offered if the referral does not meet our service criteria.