Prognosis of Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder?
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Avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a persistent feeding or eating disturbance manifested by avoidance of food or restrictive food intake that is not caused by food scarcity, cultural or religious practices, or some other psychological or medical disorder. It results in significant weight loss or nutritional deficiency, dependence on tube feeding or nutritional supplements, and/or impairment in psychosocial functioning. Unlike anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, ARFID is not characterized by a preoccupation with body shape and weight or by intentional weight loss behaviors. Instead, patients suffering from ARFID may be disinterested in food and eating, or may avoid foods because of a negative response to their color, texture, smell, taste or temperature. Individuals may also excessively fear unpleasant consequences of eating such as choking, gagging or vomiting (functional dysphagia) or exacerbated gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.
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@awanish Long-term outcomes for patients with avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) are not yet available. However, early detection of ARFID is presumably useful as in the case of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.