HYBRID EVENT: You can participate in person at Orlando, Florida, USA or Virtually from your home or work.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a complex eating disorder characterized by limited or highly selective eating habits that lead to significant nutritional deficiencies, weight loss, or impaired psychosocial functioning. Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID isn't driven by body image or weight concerns but rather by an avoidance or restriction of certain foods due to sensory issues, fear of adverse consequences with eating. Individuals with ARFID often experience extreme anxiety or distress when faced with specific textures, smells, colors, or tastes of food, leading to a restricted range of acceptable foods. This disorder can affect people of any age but is more commonly diagnosed in childhood or adolescence. ARFID can have severe consequences, such as malnutrition, stunted growth (in children), social isolation, and impairment in daily functioning. Treatment for ARFID typically involves a multidisciplinary approach, including nutritional counselling, exposure therapy to gradually expand the variety of tolerated foods, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), and sometimes medical monitoring to address physical health complications associated with the disorder. Early intervention and a supportive environment are crucial in helping individuals overcome ARFID and develop healthier relationships with food.
