ARFID Treatment
What is ARFID?
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a newer diagnosis but is no less serious than other eating disorders. ARFID shares some characteristics with anorexia including restricting the amount and/or type of food consumed but does not include some of the related concerns about body shape or size. When dealing with ARFID, a person does not consume enough calories to properly maintain basic body function.
When Is Treatment Appropriate?
When a person is struggling with ARFID, it can lead to serious medical issues by limiting the amount of energy the body has available. When dealing with ARFID, professional treatment can help and is often necessary for long-term recovery. Each person dealing with ARFID is in a different situation, with unique clinical needs, and recovery is possible for everyone.
Our program supports each client throughout the healing process, developing the most effective treatment plan to address their specific situation and clinical needs. We work diligently with each client, and their loved ones, to determine the most productive treatment goals and to help support their long-term recovery.
What type of Treatment is best?
Since each person struggling with ARFID does have a unique set of clinical needs, we provide different levels of care including residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), virtual therapy, supported living, and alumni support so we can match each client to the most appropriate treatment program for their clinical needs.
We focus on addressing clinical needs for our clients in a comfortable, safe, supportive environment. Treatment at Moriah is tailored to the most effective combination to address the eating disorder behavior and associated issues, while encouraging and supporting our clients in their healing.
ARFID Statistics
•Nearly half of children with ARFID report fear of vomiting or choking, and one-fifth say they avoid certain foods because of sensory issues.*
•One-third of children with ARFID have a mood disorder and three-fourths have an anxiety disorder.*
Footnotes
Fisher, M. M., Rosen, D. S., Ornstein, R. M., Mammel, K. A., Katzman, D. K., Rome, E. S., … & Walsh, B. T. (2014). Characteristics of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder in children and adolescents: a “new disorder” in DSM-5. Journal of Adolescent Health, 55(1), 49-52.
Nicely, T. A., Lane-Loney, S., Masciulli, E., Hollenbeak, C. S., & Ornstein, R. M. (2014). Prevalence and characteristics of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder in a cohort of young patients in day treatment for eating disorders. Journal of eating disorders, 2(1),