Picky eating or ARFID ?
Something that has always worried me has been in the news recently so I thought I’d share my thoughts a little. Not only to spread some awareness of this particular disorder but also in the hope that by putting it into words it might help me to stop thinking about the awful story. A little boy, of similar age to Little C, died recently after his heart stopped suddenly. The little boy was autistic and had ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). It is thought that the boys heart could no longer sustain his body’s requirements. The professionals involved didn’t acknowledge the boys lack of food intake and he was just referred to as being a ‘picky eater’. The story is heartbreaking. His mum could see he was losing weight and was barely eating at school but no help was offered despite her raising concerns about his food intake and weight loss. I think this article will cause concern to many parents who have autistic children. Little C is most definitely a picky ...