Health
When people hear the words eating disorder, what usually comes to mind are conditions where concerns over body image, weight gain, and obsessive calorie control drive harmful eating behaviours.
Health
But there is another disorder, far less recognised, that can be just as debilitating – one where the struggle is not with the mirror, but with food itself.
Health
ARFID is not linked to body-image concerns. Instead, individuals avoid or severely restrict food because of sensory sensitivities: lack of interest in eating, or a deep fear of choking or vomiting.
Health
ARFID may affect up to three to five percent of the population, but many cases go unrecognised due to lack of awareness.
Health
It can cause serious health consequences, including poor growth in children, nutrient deficiencies, weakened immunity, low energy, and emotional distress.