what is arfid

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), also previously known as selective eating disorder (SED), is a type of eating disorder, as well as feeding disorder, where the consumption of certain foods is limited based on the food’s appearance, smell, taste, texture, brand, presentation, or a past negative experience with the food

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) renamed “Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood” to Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, and broadened the diagnostic criteria. Previously defined as a disorder exclusive to children and adolescents, the DSM-5 broadened the disorder to include adults who limit their eating and are affected by related physiological or psychological problems, but who do not fall under the definition of another eating disorder.

The DSM-5 defines the following diagnostic criteria:

Disturbance in eating or feeding, as evidenced by one or more of:
Substantial weight loss (or, in children, absence of expected weight gain)
Nutritional deficiency
Dependence on a feeding tube or dietary supplements
Significant psychosocial interference
Disturbance not due to unavailability of food, or to observation of cultural norms
Disturbance not due to anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, and no evidence of disturbance in experience of body shape or weight
Disturbance not better explained by another medical condition or mental disorder, or when occurring concurrently with another condition, the disturbance exceeds what is normally caused by that condition