So, as the title suggests, I have ARFID. It stands for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. Before I get into the depths of this, I want to make a point of saying that I have not been formally diagnosed with ARFID – as there isn’t really a pathway for me to be diagnosed – so I am self-diagnosed with ARFID, which is a completely valid form of diagnosis. If you or someone you care about is struggling with an eating disorder, be sure to look at the links and helplines at the end of this post.

So, what is ARFID?

The term ‘ARFID’ may be new to you – it was only introduced in 2013! You may know it by its previous name Selective Eating Disorder.

People with ARFID avoid certain foods/types of foods, or may eat small amounts of food. What is unique about ARFID, is that it has nothing to do with the way a person views themselves, such as body image or weight.

Everyone with ARFID is different, and there are many ways it can manifest:

• Finding it difficult to recognise when hungry
• Taking a long time to eat over mealtimes, or finding eating a ‘chore’
• Missing meals completely, especially when busy
• Sensitivity to aspects of foods, such as the texture, temperature and/or smell
• Always having the same meals/always eating differently to everyone else
• Only eating food of a similar colour/texture (e.g. beige)
• Anxiety over mealtimes – this anxiety can also manifest as only taking small bites/sips or chewing food very carefully
• Needing supplements due to nutritional deficiencies in diet
• Weight loss (people with ARFID can be any weight, but this can be a symptom)

The prevalence of ARFID

There are an estimated 1.25 million people living in the UK have an eating disorder. ARFID accounts for roughly 5% of cases.

Autistic people are much more likely to develop ARFID, as well as people with ADHD, and intellectual disabilities.

Many people with ARFID are also more likely to have an anxiety disorder, and are also at risk of developing other mental health problems, such as depression.

My story with ARFID

I have struggled with eating for my entire life. I didn’t know that what I was experiencing was, in fact, ARFID, until my therapist told me! Honestly, I didn’t know what to do with that information at first – but it explained and validated the struggles I’d always had:

• School lunches where I’d only have eaten a packet of crisps, a chocolate bar, and a yoghurt the whole day – not because my mum hadn’t packed me enough for my day (we quickly learned that sandwiches were out and tried all sorts of food – cocktail sausages and Heinz Ketchup were a staple for a while!), or because I didn’t want to eat – I really, really struggled to tolerate anything that was outside my ‘safe foods’. This all changed when my mum discovered the Thermos flask – it meant I could finally take hot lunches to school and eat more; much to my mum’s (and my!) relief!
• Not being able to go to friend’s houses because eating at someone else’s house just wasn’t an option
• Having to pack separate food whenever I went on school trips because I couldn’t eat what was available
• Struggling with going out for dinner – this is still a problem as an adult, but it was especially difficult as a kid when I couldn’t look up a menu in advance (thank God more restaurants have their menus online now!)

I could never explain to those around me why I was struggling so much to eat this particular food, or why it had to be this particular brand, otherwise I couldn’t eat it, or why recipe changes were the worst thing to happen (RIP Heinz Beans and Sausage, you were my safe food for over 10 years, before the recipe change!).

While I’ve been working with my therapist to unpick the way ARFID impacts my life, I never realised how much anxiety I have around food on a daily basis. It’s a quiet, simmering anxiety that bubbles under the surface whenever mealtime/snacktime rolls around – regardless if it’s a ‘safe food’ or something unfamiliar.

As a result of ARFID, I’ve always had problems with getting enough vitamins, minerals and protein into my diet. I take supplements everyday to just try to get enough of what I need.

To conclude…

Before I knew what ARFID was, I used the label, ‘picky eater’, as it turns out, it’s so much more than that! I want ARFID to be more widely recognised, it’s important that schools, parents, healthcare providers – anyone, really – knows what ARFID actually is, and the impact it can have on a person’s life. I hope you all enjoyed hearing my story, and maybe you learned something new today!

L.

Organisation of the Month: ARFID Awareness UK

Not a Product of the Month this time – I wanted to spotlight ARFID Awareness UK – they are the UK’s only registered charity that is dedicated to raising awareness and providing information about ARFID.

Helplines

Beat
England – 0808 801 0677
help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Scotland – 0808 801 0432
Scotlandhelp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Wales – 0808 801 0433
Waleshelp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Northern Ireland – 0808 801 0434
NIhelp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk

First Steps ED
Mind