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 aged 8 years and older, who meet criteria for a diagnosis of ARFID (for those under 8 years old, consultation to other services will be offered).

We are currently only accepting referrals for young people between the ages of 8 and 17.

The ARFID Service offering the following time-limited and goal-focused interventions:

  • Psychological and dietetic evidence-based interventions
  • Physical health monitoring during psychological treatment
  • Individual, group and parent / carer support
  • When the psychological intervention comes to an end, you will be discharged from our service

How to refer

Referral criteria:

Service Criteria

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

Our ARFID service is available for ages 8  years and upwards by making a referral into our service. This can be a self-referral for you or your child, or a referral through your GP or other health professional that you are working with.

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.

You can find a copy of it here:   HOST 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

If you have difficulties completing the referral call  telephone enquiries:   0300 300 1980

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 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 are appropriate for this service, we aim to offer an assessment within 4 weeks of referral. Signposting and guidance will be offered if the service is NOT appropriate to meet the needs of the person being referred.