ARFID stands for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. It is an Eating Disorder characterized by a persistent avoidance or restriction of food intake that leads to inadequate nutrition and/or significant distress and impairment in functioning. ARFID was added as a distinct diagnosis in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
Individuals with ARFID often have a limited range of accepted foods and may exhibit avoidance or refusal of certain foods or food groups. This avoidance is not due to body image concerns or a fear of gaining weight, as seen in other Eating Disorders like anorexia nervosa. Instead, it may be driven by factors such as sensory sensitivity, food texture aversions, concerns about the consequences of eating (e.g., fear of choking or vomiting), or a lack of interest in food.