“Why is ARFID In Adults Often Missed?” was written by Yemina Goldberg and edited/reviewed by Maurya Hart, BSc, RD and Jackie Silver MHSc, RD.
Medical Disclaimer: The information in this article is meant for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be personalized medical or nutrition advice. For a plan tailored to your needs, please consult with a Registered Dietitian or qualified healthcare professional.
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Last updated: May 5, 2026
Introduction: ARFID in adults
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is most commonly diagnosed in kids, meaning that it can sometimes be overlooked in adults. It is hard for people with ARFID to eat enough to meet their energy and nutrient needs. This blog post will outline what ARFID is, what are some common risk factors for ARFID, and what types of support are available for adults with ARFID.
What is ARFID?
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a type of eating disorder that causes a person to limit the amount and types of food that they eat. It is also known as “Selective Eating Disorder”.
Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID doesn’t stem from body image concerns, but is instead driven by factors such as sensory sensitivities, a lack of interest in food, or a fear of bad things happening (e.g., choking, vomiting). You can learn more about the subtypes of ARFID in this blog post.
Why is ARFID in adults less common?
ARFID is commonly thought of as something that is diagnosed in childhood or adolescence. Because of this, ARFID is sometimes overlooked as a potential diagnosis in adults.
ARFID can develop in childhood, and left unaddressed, persist into adulthood. ARFID can also develop in adulthood after something traumatic related to food happens, such as food poisoning or a choking incident.
What does ARFID in adults look like?
There are many symptoms of ARFID. Some physical symptoms include:
- Weight loss without trying (unintentional)
- Constipation
- Low body temperature
- Dizziness
ARFID can also impact your daily functioning and cause:
- Fatigue, feeling tired during the day, sleeping a lot or finding it difficult to wake up in the morning
- Difficulty reaching school or career related milestones
- Difficulty paying attention
- Fear of vomiting after eating
Some other signs and symptoms of ARFID in adults are:
- Not eating enough (only eating 1-2 times per day)
- Loss of interest in eating, or not feeling any enjoyment or pleasure related to food
- Sensory issues
- Avoiding entire food groups (e.g., fruits, vegetables, meat)
- Eating fewer than 20 different foods
If someone with ARFID has been following a certain eating pattern their whole life, they may not have altered growth or weight loss. Many people with ARFID are not clinically underweight, because the body is able to adapt to different circumstances.
Additionally, individuals with the sensory subtype of ARFID often rely on a limited range of “safe foods,” where the texture feels predictable and comfortable. These foods are often items like pizza or chicken nuggets. While these individuals may not appear underweight, they can still meet the criteria for ARFID.
If you are concerned that you have ARFID, make sure to see a doctor to get diagnosed. If ARFID is left untreated, there could be serious consequences.
At Jackie Silver Nutrition, our team of dietitians / nutritionists are trained to treat ARFID in adults. We work with many neurodivergent clients who also have ARFID and we take a neuro-affirming approach to treatment.
Book your free 15-minute discovery call to see if our team would be a good fit to support you.
*Although we are based in Toronto, we can provide virtual nutrition counseling to anyone in Ontario (including Kingston, Ottawa, Kitchener/Waterloo, London, Windsor, and more), New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and US residents of certain states, including but not limited to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, and California. If your province or state is not listed here, please inquire to see if we can still support you.
What are Risk Factors for ARFID in Adults?
There are many risk factors for ARFID. Here are some of the most common:
- Genetic factors: if you have a family history of eating disorders, that could lead to ARFID in adulthood.
- Health issues: If you have developed food allergies or sensitivities in adulthood.
- Traumatic events: If you had a traumatic event focusing on food, such as choking on food in public or having a difficult relationship with food growing up.
- Autism: Autism and ARFID are interconnected, but not the same. Check out this blog post to learn more. Interestingly, the rate of parents of kids with autism who have ARFID is 17% higher than that of parents of kids without autism.
- Mental health factors: People who have ARFID may be likely to have other mental health diagnoses, in particular anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders. The relationship between these conditions is complex, and one does not necessarily cause the other.
What are some challenges for adults with ARFID?
There are many social and emotional challenges for adults with ARFID. You may feel anxious about eating in unfamiliar environments (such as restaurants or while traveling) or eating with other people. In particular, many of our adult clients with ARFID report difficulty eating while at work or school or in new restaurants where there might not be any menu item they feel comfortable eating. Many adults with ARFID are caught between wanting to feel safe and wanting freedom in the foods they eat.
What Treatments are Available for ARIFD in Adults?
Fortunately, there are several different therapies and techniques that can help you manage the symptoms of ARFID, such as:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): This is the most common therapy for ARFID, and is suitable for people older than the age of 10. Younger adults aged 18-30 may want family-supported CBT for ARFID.
- CBT involves working with a clinician (dietitian and/or psychologist) once a week for 20-30 sessions. The treatment involves understanding your ARFID, learning about how your mind works, and setting goals.
- CBT involves working with a clinician (dietitian and/or psychologist) once a week for 20-30 sessions. The treatment involves understanding your ARFID, learning about how your mind works, and setting goals.
- Food chaining: This is a technique where you start with a safe food, and you slowly make changes to the safe food to work towards accepting a new goal food. An example is changing a plain hot dog to a turkey sandwich. You can learn more on this blog: food chaining for picky eaters.
- Mealtime support: Something that can be helpful to support ARFID recovery is creating a comfortable, predictable mealtime environment. This can involve tweaking the sensory environment, or using techniques like deep breathing to help manage anxiety surrounding mealtimes.
Registered dietitians can be key to support ARFID in adults, and can support you with optimizing the nutritional content of your diet, reducing anxiety surrounding mealtimes and food, and gently expanding the safe foods in your diet.
Our team of registered dietitian-nutritionists at Jackie Silver Nutrition is equipped to support adults with ARFID, taking a neurodivergent affirming approach. Book a free 15 minute call today to learn how we could support you!
How can a Dietitian Nutritionist Support an Adult with ARFID?
The work a dietitian can do with an adult with ARFID will depend on the individual. One common area will be to increase energy and protein intake to help people have more energy for the daily activities of their life. This is especially important if the individual is malnourished and not consuming enough energy to meet their daily needs of function.
This can involve small tweaks, such as adding something high in calories and protein to an accepted food, like adding peanut butter to pancake batter. Another great trick is making smoothies, which can include different sources of calories and protein like yogurt, milk, or protein powder while providing a uniform texture.
A dietitian will also consider if supplements may be useful to support you in meeting your goals. If a person is struggling to get enough nutrients from whole foods, it can be helpful to try meal replacement shakes (such as Boost or Ensure or Sperri) or multivitamins. Supplements can also be a helpful “bridging” tool, and can take the pressure off of needing to eat certain foods while you work towards achieving your food related goals.
TL;DR
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating disorder that affects both children and adults, causing individuals to restrict the amount or types of food they consume. It is often driven by sensory issues, fear of consequences like vomiting, or a lack of interest in eating, rather than a desire to lose weight.
Adults with ARFID often face social anxiety in food-related settings and may struggle to meet their nutritional needs. However, management is possible through professional diagnosis and treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), food chaining, and relaxation techniques like deep breathing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, also known as Selective Eating Disorder, is a condition where a person restricts their food intake. It is not caused by an attempt to lose weight. Most people with ARFID avoid foods with strong smells or tastes and may eat fewer than 20 different foods in total.
Symptoms can be physical, behavioral, or sensory, including:
– Unintentional weight loss.
– Dizziness, constipation, and low body temperature.
– Eating only once or twice a day or avoiding entire food groups.
– Difficulty paying attention.
– Fear of vomiting after eating
There are several evidence-based approaches to managing symptoms:
– Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): The most common treatment, involving 10–30 weekly sessions to understand how the mind works and set goals with a clinician.
– Food Chaining: A technique that involves starting with a “safe” food and slowly transitioning to new foods through slight modifications.
– Mealtime Support: Tweaking the mealtime environment using techniques including deep breathing to help people relax.
Related blog posts:
- Autism and ARFID
- Appetite vs Hunger: How to Tell the Difference
- Feeding Therapy for Picky Eaters
- Food Chaining for Picky Eaters
About Yemina
Yemina is a student in the Nutrition and Food Sciences program at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she is also pursuing a minor in disability studies. Born with cerebral palsy, Yemina has a mission to improve the accessibility of nutrition for people with disabilities. In her spare time Yemina enjoys reading, movies, and singing.
About Jackie
Jackie is a Registered Dietitian whose mission is to empower and support the neurodivergent and physically disabled communities through nutrition. Jackie runs a virtual private practice, providing services in Ontario and New York, as well as a blog which has simple recipes and health information tailored to these communities. She loves cooking, exercising, traveling, journaling, and spending time with family and friends.
About Maurya
Maurya is a Registered Dietitian in Ontario who supports neurodivergent children, teens, and adults in meeting their nutrition goals. She brings experience in pediatrics, psychiatry, diabetes, and nephrology, and practices with a compassionate, weight-inclusive, client-centered approach. Alongside her work at Jackie Silver Nutrition, she is completing a Master’s thesis on pediatric nutrition and long-term health outcomes, and is committed to providing personalized, evidence-based care.