Struggling with Food: Mara Deals with the Challenges of Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Arfid is not just a nickname for a young girl; it's an eating disorder characterized by a severe avoidance of specific foods due to their texture, appearance, or food-related experiences.
Mara, a mid-30s woman, has been battling a unique eating disorder known as Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). This condition restricts her from consuming certain solid fruits, vegetables, and cold cooked meat, making dining a daunting task.
In an interview, Mara recalled her struggles, "No, not even strawberries," she admits, explaining her dietary restrictions. "Before the company’s Christmas dinner, I was already having sweaty palms," she confesses, reflecting on past dining experiences. Mara felt isolated, thinking she was simply being childish about food. However, after discovering an Instagram post about a child displaying similar eating behaviors, she recognized the condition as ARFID.
ARFID, first identified as a standalone disorder in 2013, affects both adults and children. People with ARFID may avoid food due to its smell, taste, consistency, or appearance. Unlike regular pickiness, ARFID is more than just disliking certain foods; it's an inability to consume them [… refer to enrichment data about therapeutic approaches...].
Mara, who is of a normal weight, has already consulted a physician, and is now considering seeking help from a psychotherapist or a speech therapist, who specializes in dealing with aversions to solid foods.
Ricarda Schmidt from the Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at Leipzig University elaborates on ARFID, "Many children or adults feel no hunger, have fears about eating, or have little appetite. Eating is not enjoyment, but a burden for them."
Children affected by ARFID might develop nutritional deficiencies or lose weight, affecting their physical and psychosocial development, says Schmidt. They may even avoid social activities involving food, such as children's birthday parties or school trips.
In Germany, ARFID is not yet recognized as a separate disease, but doctors often code the condition under other eating disorders. There is no specific therapy, but the Self-Help Association based in Münster offers support to those struggling with ARFID.
In the United States, the number of people diagnosed with ARFID is unknown, but a self-help association exists to offer support.
Anxiety about food or other symptoms of ARFID can also be triggered by early traumatic experiences, such as severe choking incidents, allergic reactions, intubation, or diseases that affect swallowing.
Mara's child is currently unaffected, but she is careful to ensure her dietary struggles do not influence her daughter's eating habits. She prioritizes offering her child a variety of foods, allowing her child to make choices, and maintaining a positive attitude towards mealtime.
Addressing ARFID requires a customized approach, focusing on managing food-related anxiety, expanding dietary variety, and improving nutritional intake. Therapeutic options include exposure therapy, psychology support, and nutritional counseling. Family involvement is often essential, with parents being coached on supporting their child's eating habits and managing mealtime stress effectively.
Mara, despite her challenges, has managed to expand her diet over the years. She now can eat dried tomatoes and olives, and enjoys puréed pumpkin and tomato soup. Mara remains optimistic, hoping to continue enjoying a balanced diet and passing her positive attitudes toward food onto her daughter.
Sources: ntv.de, Simone Humml, dpa
- Engaging in community discussions about health-and-wellness could potentially help individuals like Mara, as they might exchange experiences and seek advice on effective vocational training programs or mental-health therapies specializing in dealing with food aversions.
- Recognizing the importance of a balanced diet in maintaining good physical and mental health, nutrition experts should consider incorporating education on ARFID, its symptoms, and therapeutic approaches into their vocational training curricula to equip future professionals with the knowledge necessary to assist those struggling with the disorder.
