Skip to main content

What's ARFID? 5 Facts About ARFID

WHAT'S ARFID??

 

5 FACTS ABOUT ARFID

The focus of Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2024 is ARFID. Many of you might not have heard of ARFID. well, here's 5 facts about ARFID to get you going.

* ARFID stands for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.
- It is characterised by selective eating. So, for example, the person may avoid specific foods or certain types or groups of food; they may eat a very limited range of foods; there may be strong or aversive reaction to certain food tastes, textures, smells or colours; there may be anxiety around food; the person may fear choking, gagging or vomiting; and there may be fear around new foods. These are just some of the features of ARFID.

* It's often thought that only children and young people experience ARFID.
- However, this is not the case. There is more research into children and young people with ARFID; however, it's really important to know that adults experience ARFID too.

* It's often thought that people with ARFID are 'underweight'.
- However, people of all shapes, sizes and weights can experience ARFID.

* The exact cause of ARFID is not known.

- It's likely that a combination of factors and experiences lead to the development and maintenance of ARFID.

* ARFID isn't just picky or fussy eating either.
- It's really important to dispel this myth. ARFID is serious and can lead to a range of physical, emotional, psychological, social and occupational problems and concerns. It's therefore important to seek support from others such as psychotherapists, counsellors and dietitians who can help you improve your relationship with food.

Thanks for reading!

Talking EDs: Eating Disorders Support Service Scotland




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Next Eating Disorders and Body Image Supervision and Consult Group on Monday 2nd December 2024 - Book Now!

  CALLING ALL PROFESSIONALS CLINICAL SUPERVISION AND CONSULT GROUP FOR EATING DISORDERS AND BODY IMAGE   NEXT GROUP: MONDAY 2ND DECEMBER 2024, 6-8PM, ONLINE    We are delighted to announce the next date of our Eating Disorders and Body Image Supervision and Consult Group.   This is clinical supervision and consult group (online) for therapists, counsellors, dietitians and others working within the field of eating disorders/disordered eating and body image. It isfaciliated by an accredited psychotherapist, qualified clinical supervisor and trainer withover 23 years of experience in this area.   The group is online so that as many as possible can access it. Groups take place approximately every 6 weeks from 6-8pm (although you don't need to attend every time).   Please email us to (contact details in poster below) if you would like more information, have any questions, wanted to be added to the group's mailing list or if you would like to book a space at...

Myths & Stereotypes: Eating Disorders....Part 2

Myths and Stereotypes - Eating Disorders : Part 2 Eating disorders are not a ‘diet’. They are a mental health illness that can impact upon all areas of life and have negative, distressing and often life-threatening consequences. Eating disorders are characterised by having a difficult, negative or dysfunctional relationship with food and eating. This changes thoughts and feelings about food, and, consequently, the person's behaviours and habits surrounding food and eating. Neither are eating disorders about beauty, appearance or looking a certain way. In fact, they often have little to do with food, but lots to do with gaining control and finding a way of coping with life. Thoughts, feelings, emotions, memories and experiences are all controlled through one’s relationship with food. Control or non-control of eating and food provides a way of also coping with often painful, difficult or distressful thoughts, emotions, experiences or memories: by blocking them out, denyi...

BODY IMAGE AND BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER: What is it?

BODY IMAGE AND BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER As we said yesterday, this week in Mental Health Awareness Week 2019. This is a national awareness week and the theme this year is Body Image. See Monday's post to see what we are doing this week. We will also be posting everyday this week on Facebook, Twitter and the blog about Body Image and BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder). Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition related to Body Image where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others. People of any age can have BDD and it affects anyone of any gender or sex. Having BDD does not mean you are vain or self-obsessed. It can be very upsetting and have a big impact on your life. Low mood, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, stress, trauma, self-harm and eating disorders are some of the other conditions that can co-occur with BDD. Some o...