Recognizing the Signs of ARFID in Adults and Finding Support at Sanford Behavioral Health
When people think of eating disorders, conditions like anorexia or bulimia are often the first that come to mind. But another eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), affects many adults and is often misunderstood. For adults living with ARFID, even something as simple as eating a meal can feel overwhelming, isolating, or frightening.
Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID isn’t driven by body image or weight concerns. Instead, it may stem from food aversions, anxiety about choking or vomiting, or deep discomfort with certain textures and smells. Over time, these challenges can lead to significant weight loss, health complications, and emotional distress, making daily life harder to manage.
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we understand how difficult it can be to face ARFID as an adult. Our compassionate team provides expert care for restrictive food intake disorder near Grand Rapids, MI, helping patients improve their nutrition while reducing fear and stress around food.
What is ARFID?
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder is an eating disorder in which individuals consistently limit what they eat or avoid certain foods altogether. This may be due to strong reactions to texture, smell, or taste, or because of anxiety related to eating, such as fear of choking or vomiting. For some, eating feels stressful or uncomfortable instead of nourishing.
ARFID differs from conditions like anorexia nervosa. Adults with ARFID are typically not motivated by weight loss or body image concerns. Instead, the condition is rooted in anxiety, sensory sensitivities, or discomfort that makes eating difficult.
This is one reason ARFID may go unnoticed. Some adults may appear at a normal weight but still experience poor nutrition, fatigue, or health issues. Others may lose weight unintentionally or fail to maintain weight when their bodies need more nourishment.
ARFID can have serious consequences, including:
- Ongoing fatigue, dizziness, and low energy from inadequate nutrition
- Weakened immunity and frequent illness
- Bone loss, cardiovascular concerns, and long-term medical complications
- Increased anxiety, depression, or social withdrawal due to restricted eating
The stigma surrounding ARFID can also lead to feelings of shame, guilt, and isolation.
ARFID symptoms in adults
Adults with ARFID often notice their eating habits limit their lives in ways that go far beyond “picky eating.” Some common signs include:
- Limited variety of foods: Reliance on a small list of “safe” foods and avoiding entire food groups.
- Fear of choking or vomiting: Avoiding meals due to anxiety, even without a medical cause.
- Low appetite or lack of interest in food: Skipping meals or eating only when necessary.
- Physical symptoms: Fatigue, weakness, and illness caused by nutritional gaps. Over time, ARFID can lead to weight loss and health decline.
- Avoidance of social situations involving food: Skipping gatherings, restaurants, or workplace meals due to fear of judgment or lack of safe options.
- Dependence on supplements or shakes: Using replacements instead of a balanced diet.
If these symptoms seem familiar, it’s important to seek professional help. ARFID does not typically resolve on its own, but with treatment, adults can rebuild a healthier relationship with food.
Risk factors for ARFID in adults
While the exact causes of ARFID vary, certain factors may contribute to its development in adulthood:
- Past traumatic food experiences: Episodes of choking, gagging, or vomiting that created lasting fear.
- Sensory sensitivities: Discomfort with certain food textures, smells, or tastes.
- Co-occurring mental health conditions: Anxiety disorders, depression, or PTSD can reinforce restrictive eating habits.
- Feeding difficulties earlier in life: Childhood eating patterns that were never fully resolved may continue into adulthood.
Recognizing these risk factors helps reduce stigma. It highlights that ARFID is a serious condition, not a choice, and requires timely treatment and support.
How ARFID affects daily life for adults
For adults, ARFID often interferes with both personal and professional life. Situations like work lunches, family meals, and social events may cause anxiety, leading to isolation. Nutritional deficiencies can reduce concentration, productivity, and energy, making it difficult to manage daily responsibilities.
Physically, ARFID may cause a weakened immune system, heart problems, or brittle bones from long-term nutrient deficiencies. Mentally, the stress of hiding eating habits or fearing judgment often worsens co-occurring conditions such as anxiety or depression.
What to do after receiving an ARFID diagnosis
Hearing that you have avoidant restrictive food intake disorder can feel overwhelming at first. Many adults wonder if their eating habits are “serious enough” to be considered an eating disorder or worry about what treatment will look like. The important thing to remember is that an ARFID diagnosis is not a judgment—it’s a step toward understanding your challenges and finding the right support.
After receiving a diagnosis, the next steps may include:
- Connecting with a treatment team: Work with specialists in adult eating disorders.
- Exploring levels of care: Depending on your needs, treatment might begin with residential care, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), or outpatient therapy.
- Addressing co-occurring concerns: Many adults with ARFID also experience anxiety disorders, depression, or trauma-related stress. Integrated care helps treat both the eating disorder and any underlying mental health conditions.
- Building a support system: Share your diagnosis with trusted family or friends who can encourage you as you take steps toward recovery.
- Practicing patience with yourself: Progress with ARFID can take time. Each step, from trying a new food to reducing mealtime anxiety, is part of the healing journey.
Receiving an ARFID diagnosis can feel like a turning point. It opens the door to treatment options that improve physical health and help restore confidence, reduce fear, and rebuild a healthier relationship with food.
How Sanford Behavioral Health helps with eating disorders and mental health
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we offer personalized eating disorder programs for adults with ARFID. Treatment focuses on both the physical impact of restricted eating and the psychological challenges that fuel avoidance. Our approach is compassionate, supportive, and tailored to each individual.
Our ARFID treatment includes:
- Comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis of ARFID and any co-occurring conditions.
- Psychiatrist-led medical team and on-staff dietitians for medical and nutritional support.
- Evidence-based therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy, can be used to reduce food-related anxiety.
- Meal support and clinical kitchen experiences, helping adults practice eating in supportive settings.
- Holistic therapies, such as yoga, art therapy, mindfulness, and recreation therapy, can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
- Multiple levels of care, including residential, PHPs, IOPs, and outpatient treatment.
By combining medical expertise, therapeutic support, and a compassionate community, Sanford Behavioral Health helps adults address the root causes of ARFID and work toward long-term recovery.
Begin your healing journey at Sanford Behavioral Health
If you or a loved one is living with ARFID, know that recovery is possible. Recognizing the signs is the first step, and with professional treatment, lasting healing and well-being can be achieved.
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we provide compassionate, personalized care for adults with ARFID and other eating disorders. With evidence-based therapies, supportive staff, and a full continuum of care, we help patients rebuild trust in food and confidence in themselves.
Call Sanford Behavioral Health today at 616.202.3326 or use our online contact form to schedule an appointment. Taking the first step may feel difficult, but you do not have to do it alone. Our team will walk beside you with care, understanding, and hope for lasting recovery.
