Your child may have an ED or eating disorder if they refuse to eat or have trouble eating.
It's normal for your child to refuse to eat some days and refuse to eat certain foods.
However if your child has problems eating or refuses to eat for days then you should be concerned and take the child to see a doctor.
Your child may have AFRID which is an eating disorder.
An ARFID disorder is a disorder and condition that makes it hard for someone to eat.
ARFID is Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.
ARFID in children is most often treated through use of medication, family based treatment, psychotherapy, behavioral interventions and medical nutrition therapy.
The symptoms of ARFID are.
Sudden refusal to eat foods.
A person with ARFID may no longer eat food that that ate previously.
Fear of choking or vomiting.
No appetite for no known reason.
Very slow eating.
Difficulty eating meals with family or friends.
No longer gaining weight.
Losing weight.
No growth or delayed growth.
ARFID is Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.
ARFID is a new addition to DSM-5, the official list of psychiatric diagnoses.
It had been known as feeding disorder of infancy or early childhood, or eating disorder, not otherwise specified.
ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) is one such eating disorder diagnosis we see a lot of crossover with OCD behaviors and symptoms.
Those struggling with ARFID have an intense lack of interest or aversion to food as well as extreme sensitivities around eating.
Children may feel intense anxiety about eating certain foods or have stunted growth because of nutritional deficiencies.
One recent study from Switzerland estimated the prevalence of ARFID among children aged 8–13 at about 3.2%.
ARFID is one of the most common eating disorders treated in children.
Some of the other complications associated with ARFID include malnutrition, weight loss, vitamin deficiencies, developmental delays, gastrointestinal problems, stalled or stunted weight gain and growth (in children), co-occurring anxiety disorders, and problems with socializing.
Physical or mental abuse, a bad breakup, or even a car accident can have very strong effects on the psyche.
Trauma during childhood, even if it seems to have been suppressed, can cause issues later in life.
As a result, ARFID's initial onset is most commonly observed during the late teenage years and early adulthood.
A person with ARFID may limit their diet for several other reasons, including that they have a lack of interest in eating, a fear of aversive consequences (like choking or vomiting), or sensory sensitivity.
There is no standard treatment for ARFID because it is a relatively new diagnosis.
As with other eating disorders, ARFID has no singular cause.
However, the evolving scientific literature suggests that this pattern of disordered eating develops from a complex interplay between genetic, psychological and sociocultural factors.