Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (also known as Food Neophobia, Food Neophobias): An eating or feeding disturbance (e.g., apparent lack of interest in eating or food; avoidance based on the sensory characteristics of food; concern about aversive consequences of eating) as manifested by persistent failure to me

NIH MeSH · D000080146Psychiatry and Psychology

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Also known asFood Neophobia · Food Neophobias · Neophobia, Food · ARFID

Definition

An eating or feeding disturbance (e.g., apparent lack of interest in eating or food; avoidance based on the sensory characteristics of food; concern about aversive consequences of eating) as manifested by persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs associated with one (or more) of the following: significant weight loss (or failure to achieve expected weight gain or faltering growth in children); significant nutritional deficiency; dependence on enteral feeding or oral nutritional supplements; or marked interference with psychosocial functioning. (from DSM-V)

MeSH classification

  • F03.400.157

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Related concepts

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Common questions about Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

What does Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder mean in medicine?
An eating or feeding disturbance (e.g., apparent lack of interest in eating or food; avoidance based on the sensory characteristics of food; concern about aversive consequences of eating) as manifested by persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs associated with one (or more) of the following: significant weight loss (or failure to achieve expected weight gain or faltering growth in children); significant nutritional deficiency; dependence on enteral feeding or oral nutritional supplements; or marked interference with psychosocial functioning. (from DSM-V) This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder known by any other names?
Yes. Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is also referred to as Food Neophobia, Food Neophobias, Neophobia, Food, ARFID in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder sit in the medical classification?
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder falls under the broader medical category "Psychiatry and Psychology" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: F03.400.157). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder?
For a plain-language explanation of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder - including symptoms, treatments and what it means for an Indian patient - ask GoDavaii's Health AI. It works in 22+ Indian languages, is free and needs no signup. Tap "Ask GoDavaii AI about Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder" above.

Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D000080146) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗