Is it more than Fussy Eating?

1 July

“I’ve been like this since I was a kid. I just didn’t know it had a name.”

Fussy eating is common in childhood but sometimes it’s more than a phase.

At The Nourish Club, I often meet clients (both children and adults) who’ve been labelled “fussy” for as long as they can remember. For many, the story starts early, often between ages 2 and 4, when foods they once enjoyed start dropping off the list. The variety narrows, mealtimes become a battle, and concerns grow.

Over time, that “fussy” label sticks. But in some cases, there’s more to the story.

How Common is Fussy Eating?

Fussy or picky eating is very common in young children. Research shows that up to 50% of toddlers and preschoolers go through a fussy eating phase. For most, it passes naturally as they grow, explore, and are gently exposed to a wider variety of foods.

But for some, the pattern doesn’t go away and the impact goes beyond mealtime.

Could it Be ARFID?

A lesser-known but very real eating disorder is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).

Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not about body image. Instead, food is avoided due to:

Sensory sensitivities (taste, texture, smell, appearance)
Lack of interest in eating or food
Fear of consequences (e.g. choking, vomiting, pain)

Many adults I work with say, “I’ve been like this since I was a kid. I just didn’t know it had a name.”

Fussy Eating vs ARFID: What’s the Difference?

Fussy Eating:

Common in early childhood
Gradually improves over time
Child can still eat enough to grow and stay healthy
May reject some foods but eats from all food groups
Can usually tolerate trying new foods with time and exposure

ARFID:

Can begin in childhood or adulthood
Often stays the same or worsens without support
Nutrition, growth, or social needs may not be met
Severely limited range of foods (often fewer than 10–15)
Extreme distress around trying new foods

If a child is not growing well, has nutritional deficiencies, misses out on social activities, or experiences high anxiety around food, it could be ARFID, not just fussiness.

Nutrition and Health Concerns

ARFID can lead to:

Nutrient deficiencies (especially iron, zinc, fibre, and vitamins A & C)
Poor growth or weight loss
Fatigue, dizziness, and concentration difficulties
Reliance on supplements or highly processed “safe” foods

Psychosocial Impacts of ARFID

ARFID isn’t just about nutrition, it can deeply affect quality of life.

Clients often describe:

“I have to say I’m full when I’m actually starving, because there’s nothing I can eat at my friend’s house.”

“I dread work events with food. I feel embarrassed and weird.”

“Going on holiday makes me anxious, what if I can’t eat anything?”

This kind of food-related stress and social avoidance can lead to isolation, low self-esteem, and shame.

ARFID and Autism

There’s a strong link between ARFID and Autism. Many autistic individuals experience:

Heightened sensory sensitivity
Difficulty with interoception (hunger/fullness cues)
Need for sameness and routine

If you or your child are neurodivergent, your eating experience deserves to be understood.

ARFID and Trauma

ARFID may also develop after a traumatic experience with food, such as:

Choking or vomiting
Surgery or a medical condition affecting eating
Pressure-filled feeding environments in childhood

Even well-meaning encouragement can become distressing if someone already feels overwhelmed by eating.

Treatment and Support

ARFID is a relatively new diagnosis, first formally recognised in the DSM-5 in 2013. Because of this, awareness is still growing, and many clients tell me it took years of frustration and misunderstanding before they found the right diagnosis or even a name for what they were experiencing.

The good news? ARFID is treatable, and support doesn’t have to mean forcing foods or mealtime battles.

At The Nourish Club, we take a neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed approach. I have completed additional training in both CBT-AR (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for ARFID) and Responsive Feeding Therapy, which allow me to tailor support for both children and adults based on their individual needs and readiness.

Our approach focuses on:

Building trust and safety with food
Supporting gradual, pressure-free exposure
Nourishing the body with what’s possible now
Supporting growth with supplementation when appropriate
Collaborating with psychologists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and GPs when helpful

There is no “one right way” to eat. Recovery is about expanding possibilities, not chasing perfection.