What Is the New Name for ARFID? Understanding Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

October 20, 2025 •

3 min read

Introduced in the DSM-5 in 2013, the diagnosis of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) superseded earlier classifications, including what was sometimes called Selective Eating Disorder. For those wondering what is the new name for ARFID?, it is this official title, which accurately reflects that the condition is more complex than typical picky eating and can have severe health consequences.

Quick Summary

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is the modern diagnostic term for a feeding disorder that replaced older classifications, including the informal 'selective eating disorder'. It involves significant food restriction driven by sensory issues, low interest, or fear of eating, distinguishing it from disorders motivated by body image.

Key Points

New Name: The new name for ARFID is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, a formal diagnosis introduced in the DSM-5 in 2013.
Previous Terms: ARFID replaced the older diagnosis of 'feeding disorder of infancy or early childhood' and was formerly known colloquially as 'Selective Eating Disorder'.
Motivations for Restriction: Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not about body image but is driven by sensory aversions, lack of interest in food, or fear of negative consequences like choking or vomiting.
Health Impacts: The restricted eating in ARFID can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies, significant weight loss or failure to grow, and impaired psychosocial functioning.
Difference from Picky Eating: ARFID is more serious and persistent than normal picky eating and typically requires professional intervention to resolve, while picky eating is often outgrown.
Multidisciplinary Treatment: Effective treatment for ARFID involves a team of specialists, including doctors, dietitians, and therapists using strategies like CBT and graded exposure.
Applicable to All Ages: While often beginning in childhood, ARFID can persist into or develop during adulthood and can affect people across all ages, genders, and weights.

The Evolution of Diagnosis: What is the new name for ARFID?

Prior to 2013, severe food restriction in children was often vaguely diagnosed as a "feeding disorder of infancy or early childhood" or referred to informally as "Selective Eating Disorder" (SED). The inclusion of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in the DSM-5 marked a significant advancement, providing a more precise diagnosis for this complex condition affecting individuals of all ages. Unlike disorders like anorexia nervosa, ARFID is not driven by concerns about body weight or shape. Instead, the food avoidance stems from three main factors:

Sensory sensitivity to food characteristics.
Lack of interest in eating.
Fear of negative consequences from eating, such as choking or vomiting.

What Distinguishes ARFID from Picky Eating?

While picky eating is common and often outgrown, ARFID is a severe, persistent condition with significant health and psychosocial consequences. Key distinctions include:

Picky eating involves disliking a few foods and typically resolves over time without intervention.
ARFID often involves avoiding entire food groups or specific sensory qualities, leading to nutritional deficiencies, impaired growth, or weight loss, and usually requires professional treatment.

ARFID vs. Other Eating Disorders: A Comparative Look

ARFID differs significantly from other eating disorders like Anorexia Nervosa, particularly in the underlying motivations.


Feature	Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)	Anorexia Nervosa (AN)
Primary Motivation	Sensory issues, lack of interest, or fear of negative consequences (choking, vomiting).	Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat; distorted body image.
Body Image Concerns	Not driven by concerns about body shape or size.	Central to the disorder; a disturbed perception of body weight and shape.
Weight Status	Can occur at any weight, though it may cause significant weight loss or failure to gain weight.	Defined by significantly low body weight.
Food Variety	Highly limited range of acceptable foods, often related to sensory properties.	May accept a wider variety of foods but in extremely restricted amounts based on calorie control.

The Nutritional Impact of ARFID

ARFID's restrictive eating patterns can lead to severe malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies, resulting in stunted growth, fatigue, anemia, and potentially life-threatening electrolyte imbalances. The specific deficiencies depend on the types of food being avoided.

Navigating Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Treatment

Diagnosing ARFID requires a comprehensive evaluation by a medical professional. Treatment is most effective with a multidisciplinary team, including a doctor, mental health professional, and dietitian. Treatment plans are individualized and may include medical monitoring, nutritional support (potentially supplements or tube feeding), psychological interventions like CBT-AR or FBT, graded exposure to new foods, and anxiety management techniques.

For more information and support on eating disorders, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) website is a valuable resource.

Conclusion

The formal name for the condition previously referred to as Selective Eating Disorder is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). This updated terminology in the DSM-5 better reflects the complex, non-body-image-related motivations for food restriction. Recognizing ARFID as a distinct and serious eating disorder is crucial for seeking appropriate multidisciplinary treatment, which can help individuals of all ages develop healthier eating patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

The acronym ARFID stands for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. This official name was established in 2013 with the publication of the DSM-5.

The diagnosis of ARFID is relatively new, having been formally recognized in the DSM-5 in 2013. However, the condition itself, which includes symptoms like selective eating and food aversion, has existed for a long time under different, less precise descriptions.

The key difference is the severity and consequences. ARFID leads to significant nutritional deficiencies, impaired growth, weight loss, or major psychosocial impairment, whereas typical picky eating does not cause these severe issues.

No, ARFID is not motivated by concerns about body shape, size, or weight gain. The avoidance of food is driven by sensory issues, low interest in eating, or a fear of negative outcomes like choking or vomiting.

Treatment for ARFID is typically provided by a multidisciplinary team and can include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), nutritional counseling, and exposure-based therapies like food chaining.

Yes, while it often begins in childhood, ARFID can be diagnosed at any age. The broader diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5 allow for the recognition of this disorder in teenagers and adults, not just young children.

If left untreated, ARFID can lead to serious health problems due to malnutrition, including nutrient deficiencies, weight loss, impaired growth, and electrolyte imbalances that can affect organ function.