Introduction to avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) (December 2, 2025)

Presented by: Lori Henry  

For pediatric occupational therapists, children can present with food refusal, picky eating, rigid eating, and eating a limited variety of foods. When is this a phase and when might it be avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)? ARFID is a “new” diagnosis added to the DSM-5 (APA, 2013) that typically shows up in childhood, but it doesn't include the same preoccupation with weight as the more well-known eating disorders anorexia and bulimia nervosa.  This webinar will provide an overview of ARFID, potential causes, symptoms, and connection to autism spectrum disorder. There will be an exploration of the occupational implications of ARFID for the child and their family. The presenter will then discuss the current best practice occupational therapy interventions for ARFID and the relevant literature to support them.

After taking part in this webinar, participants will be able to: 

1. Start to be able to identify ARFID symptoms (as opposed to picky eating) in their clients, and the occupational implications.
2. Understand the current best practices for occupational therapists to use in therapy for ARFID.
3. Explore occupation-based interventions that clinicians can use for ARFID.

Level  Beginner (0-2 years of experience in this specific area of practice