A.R.F.I.D., which is short for Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, is a fairly newly discovered eating disorder. Currently affecting around 2 out of every 100,000 people in the world, this number is only growing every day as more cases are both identified and revealed as more learn about the meaning of such a condition. Commonly seen amongst kids, those with A.R.F.I.D. are extremely selective eaters and often have little interest in eating any food at all. They may eat a limited variety of preferred foods, which can lead to poor growth and poor nutrition. This rabbit hole only leads to further mental conditions. But why does this happen? And what is it? People with A.R.F.I.D. can only be described as avoiders of food. This may be specific foods, foods of certain smells or textures. Exactly what one can and cannot eat is different for everyone, but all will experience the common fear of stepping outside of this comfort zone, which leads to states of panic, immediate vomiting of the food. This intense overwhelming fear of that experience repeating leads to the lack of nutrients a kid needs to grow properly. This disorder can affect the everyday lives of those with it in more ways than one might think.
Malnutrition
Malnutrition affects many people in the US. Around 1 in every 8 households has limited access to an easy source of food. Whether this be from money, locations, or other reasons such as disorderly conditions like A.R.F.I.D.. The result of facing one of these? A drastic lack of the nutritions your body needs, especially for kids. Due to the lack of eating, kids with A.R.F.I.D. often live with this malnutrition from a young age. A proper, well balanced diet is something far easier said than done for these kids. However, it is widely known that it’s crucial to eat as well as possible throughout your childhood in your growing years. So what happens to these kids who are simply unable to do so? What are the effects it will have?
Physical Effects
Directly coming from Malnutrition, kids in their growing phase tend to be shorter, as they simply don’t have the food, proteins, or energy to expand to their full potential. And like anyone who doesn’t eat much, they will find themselves to be skinnier, and even find it harder to gain muscle. This body image can often leave negative effects on one’s perception of themself, and leave them feeling weaker than their peers.
Mental Effects
Those with A.R.F.I.D. are easily subject to more drastic emotional effects. Lack of food makes everyone tired, with or without a condition. That run-down feeling that you experience after a long day running on a glass of milk and a donut you had is one that kids with A.R.F.I.D. are all too familiar with. Some days, they may be able to have a good day, where they eat a big breakfast and feel their spirits raise, while on others, it may be hard for one to even get through the school day. And this feeling of fatigue goes hand and hand with mood swings. A lack of nutrients in the body makes it a lot easier to have feelings that don’t quite make sense. Kids with the condition may express feelings of being sad and not knowing why. One might grow angry over little things. Reacting without thinking it through is something commonly associated with malnutrition. These unfortunately can lead to worsened mental conditions, such as ADHD, OCD, anxiety and in some cases even depression.
Mental Conditions
Sadly, A.R.F.I.D. isn’t making anyone’s lives any easier. Being neurodivergent is shockingly common amongst kids with this condition to some degree. Commonly ADHD and OCD, and in 8% of cases, even autism. However social skills are also incredibly hard with or without these because of those mood swings. And they’re even harder when you add in feelings of anxiety and overwhelmingness. Simply put, it directly affects the mood of all with poor diets. Unfortunately, malnutrition is a direct cause of many people’s depression. This tired feeling of emptiness quickly leads to a feeling of lack of motivation, which may result in kids not finding interest in things they once loved. One might see them as “lazy” but the reality is, they are just incredibly physically and emotionally drained from not having the energy to sustain themselves. Wanting to be alone simply comes from being too tired or too emotional to be around someone. Kids with A.R.F.I.D. may distance themselves when they get in this state of mind, perhaps to protect others from their emotional state, or maybe they’re embarrassed, or maybe they;re just unable to bring themselves around people. Whatever the reason, this weakened state of mind and being left alone to process it is a slippery slope to depression amongst not only kids, but teens and adults as well. Furthermore, the condition is actually commonly associated with several learning disabilities, such as autism, ADHD, and cases of feeling anxious. Almost everyone with A.R.F.I.D. will report it being far harder for them to concentrate, finding themselves to be easily distracted, and their mind to be clustered and zoned out often. This not only makes it harder to think before speaking, leaving them unfiltered, but also makes it hard to focus in schools. Someone may read the same page 5 times without processing anything, or listen to an entire lesson and immediately forget it. Tests and exams may take far longer for someone with these conditions because it simply takes longer to process information without getting distracted. They’re not slow, they’re simply tapping their desk, or counting the ceiling tiles, or replaying a song in their head. Once you leave a present state of mind, it can be hard to reel yourself in. This being said, it is still 100% possible for someone with this condition to academically thrive, they just may have to work a little harder, and focus a little more than others.
Social Effects
The healthy human mind is made up from a body that is active, social, and of course, well nourished. One’s ability to think clearly, set priorities and switch from task to task is drastically impacted when they repeatedly undereat. In fact, you may face the opposite effects, where your own thinking can become inflexible, limiting you from stepping at all out of your comfort zone and often leading to cases of OCD where you find yourself needing to complete actions that are unnecessary, and you don;t even know why you wish to do them. This goes hand and hand with obsessiveness, where kids with A.R.F.I.D. may find themselves to be easily frustrated and flustered when things do not go their way. After planning and expecting something, being caught off guard can easily anger someone, or make them feel overwhelmed. These irrational emotions are beyond their control, and the kids and adults are more likely to negatively react to criticism. In addition, it may be very hard to empathize or connect emotionally with others. Often feeling emotionally blank, and trapped in a state of being in a room but not really there. Now this doesn’t make them at all bad people or self centered, in fact, one may try really hard to understand the emotions of their peers. Using this to try to understand they should feel bad for them, to better help. Good people will show empathy even if it isn’t fully understood as easily. However, when interacting with one with A.R.F.I.D. or any person experiencing malnutrition, remember, social interactions may not be as easy as they’re trying to make it seem. It is easy for someone to grow incredibly stressed, overwhelmed, or even angered for no reason at all. Typically, one will want to be alone during this, but if there mood swings around you do your best to be patient. This by no means justifies the actions of what one might do in a rage or state of sadness, but it at least will help you understand why this person is doing this over seemingly nothing. Even the most outgoing of people sometimes need to be alone in all aspects of life. And if someone seems to be getting upset, support them, and if they want space that’s ok to. People may be embarrassed to admit it, but often someone just needs to think through things and calm themselves down. Talk them through it if they want. It goes a long way and may prevent an emotional breakdown.
Overwhelmed
The feeling of being overwhelmed is the one side effect one could easily argue that all kids and adults with A.R.F.I.D. experience one way or another. Easy mood swings, things not going your way, and anxious feelings are only the least of it. School and work can often be incredibly overwhelming, clouding your mind and making you feel trapped and stressed. As said before, many kids will experience intense lack of motivation and concentration skills. This can make small assignments take forever, only further progressing the stress. Sometimes one may just want to lay in bed and stare at the ceiling. Often this will be because it’s all they’re able to physically or emotionally do. But the intense feeling of guilt as you’re letting chores and assignments build up truly can make one emotionally distraught. It is ok. Eventually you will find yourself experiencing random urges of intense motivation, and there’s no shame in waiting for those moments. Unfortunately, this can lead to late assignments or last minute rushed work. This does fall into the category of one with A.R.F.I.D. also having ADHD, or in some cases even autism. This does not affect everyone but when it does it definitely adds that extra level of challenge to one’s life. Some may need to be in special classes in schools for a more isolated experience, while others may experience little to none of this at all and be fine on their own.
How to get better?
Those with A.R.F.I.D. are not simply “just” picky eaters, in fact most would love to change their ways. The side effects are not fun, and if one could eat more and healthier they would. However, it is not that simple, trying foods outside of your comfort zone is incredibly scary, and often one may find their body’s to be throwing up new foods on the spot. The state of fear and shock from the gagging makes even just small bites of new foods an incredibly difficult feat. This experience is extremely overwhelming, and having family members/friends around who may think they’re just supporting or helping you by forcing you to eat something truthfully only worsens the situation. The reality is, one look at a meal and someone can determine whether they like it or not, typically, making one with A.R.F.I.D. sit and stare at a plate until it gets cold is not getting one anywhere. Furthermore, growing angry with this person is incredibly frustrating with them, as while it may seem to you like they’re not even trying, the reality is they’re working really hard. If they could eat it they would eat it with all this pressure. Let yourself back off, be understanding. They’ll likely feel guilty for not eating your food. So what is a better approach? First off, eating something is always better than nothing. Even if one’s diet consists of eating incredibly unhealthy foods, the truth is it’s hard to eat anything at all with this condition, so let them have whatever they can. It may be all they get for the day. However, a step towards a healthier diet is always a great goal to have. Try slowly expanding your comfort zone. Maybe you like white bread? Commonly, just because two foods are within the same category, it doesn’t make them any easier to try. So slowly, you can work up to some brown bread. Then, when you’re up for it, some wheat bread. Now maybe you like peanut butter, try putting a little on top and see how it goes. These slow steps may seem a little ridiculous from the outside, but I promise this building up of tolerance not only makes one feel stronger and more confident, but is a great step in the right direction.
Support
Those struggling with A.R.F.I.D. are very aware of their condition. Everyones different, and everyone responds in different ways. The only person who can truly understand their limits and their solutions to improve on them is oneself. Don’t assume everyone experiences all of the side effects listed here as well, everyone is different, and if you want to learn more about someone, simply ask. That’s the best way to understand someone with this condition. Listen to them, and don’t attempt to force things, being food or activities that may be too much for them to handle. While you may not view them as someone who needs this support, they are not just being dramatic. The limits are real, and doubting this will only do harm towards this person. Life may be a struggle for some, so be supportive, listen, and take steps if they are willing to help them down a healthier path.
