Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health ARFID — Exploring Its Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Plans
Dec 24, 2025
Discover the complexities of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), a serious eating disorder often affecting children and teens. Unlike picky eating, ARFID leads to severe nutritional deficiencies and significant social difficulties. Learn about its prevalence, core causes like sensory issues, and treatment strategies including cognitive behavioral therapy and innovative food therapies. Find out how specialized protocols combining psychology and hypnosis offer impressive success rates, and gain practical tips for supporting recovery in both children and adults.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ARFID Is Distinct From Picky Eating
- ARFID is severe restriction driven by fear, sensory issues, or low interest, not body-image concerns.
- It causes nutritional, growth, and social problems beyond typical picky eating.
ARFID Affects More People Than You Think
- Prevalence estimates range widely from about 0.35% to 6.4% depending on region and age.
- ARFID often begins in childhood with average diagnosis near age 11 and includes more males than other eating disorders.
Three Core Drivers Of ARFID
- ARFID drivers include fear after choking/vomiting, sensory overload to taste/smell/texture, and low interest in food.
- Anxiety links to control over meals and fuels avoidance of social eating situations.