Food phobia / ARFID

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is classified as an eating disorder marked by extreme food avoidance or ‘picky-ness’. People suffering from ARFID avoid food due to fears of eating new foods rather than due to any weight-based or image concerns. As such, ARFID is more closely related to food phobias and benefits from food phobia treatment. Typically, restrictive eating habits result in very few foods consumed and often ‘safe’ foods are bland, ‘beige’ and of low nutritional value. ARFID and other food phobias can impact relationships and social engagements as celebrations and bonding often occurs around food and can be anxiety-provoking rather than enjoyable for an ARFID sufferer. Meal times can be very stressful times for people with ARFID or other food phobias and due to this and the health implications of maintaining a restrictive diet, it is important to seek appropriate treatment. We offer ARFID and food phobia treatment programmes for adults, adolescents, and kids (through the Cool Kids program), enhanced with VR.