23/10/2025
Myth 1: Only children experience . Many adults have ARFIDāsome since childhood, others developing it after trauma, illness, or sensory changes (e.g. due to burnout, hormones, etc).
Myth 2: People canāt starve themselves, survival instinct will override. Fear or sensory overwhelm can very much override hunger. The brain perceives food as unsafeāso eating feels impossible, not optional. Itās not about willpower or choice. If someoneās body starts to adapt (called āStarvation Syndromeā), it can actually lower hunger and energy. Itās a vicious cycle, not a choice.
Myth 3: People with ARFID are always underweight. Under the current diagnostic criteria, someone can have ARFID without being underweight or
experiencing significant weight loss. Importantly, weight doesnāt show nutritional health. Some people with ARFID are slim, others arenāt, and some are fat. Limited diets can still have serious medical or functional impacts regardless of weight.
Myth 4: Thereās no such thing as ARFID, itās just fussiness. ARFID is a recognised eating disorder in both major diagnostic systems (ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR), and has been researched. It is not āpicky eatingā opr preference; it involves fear, disgust, or sensory distress that severely limits intake.
Myth 5: ARFID is always a medical emergency. All bodies respond differently to intake. Some people with ARFID will need support in a medical hospital if their bodies are malnourished. Two people can have the same diet and one might become malnourished, whilst the other is consistently healthy with normal blood results. Some people manage on their own, once they understand and accommodate their needs, and others manage with therapy and allied health care. Early, trauma-informed support can prevent medical crises.
Myth 6: People with ARFID only eat bland or white foods. Not always! Safe foods vary; some prefer crunchy, spicy, or colourful foods. Others develop ARFID from specific fears (such as vomiting or choking) so donāt limit their food based on flavour or other sensory properties. Itās about predictability, safety, and/or sensory profiles, which we know are diverse.
