Epidemiology of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Abstract

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a relatively new category within DSM-5 feeding and eating disorders, which expands beyond developmentally normative picky eating. Given its recent introduction to the diagnostic nomenclature, research on the epidemiology of ARFID is in its infancy. Prevalence estimates for ARFID vary considerably by methodology, setting, and population, but growing evidence suggests that ARFID is just as common as other more well-known eating disorders, affecting approximately 0.3% to 15.5% of children and 0.3% to 4.1% of adults. Despite common misconceptions, ARFID impacts a wide range of individuals across ages and genders, and both medical and psychiatric comorbidities are common. Limited research has investigated prognosis, but existing longitudinal studies highlight the persistence of the disorder and the possibility of diagnostic crossover to other eating disorders. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2024;54(2):e42–e46.]