Journal article
Prevalence, characteristics, and correlates of probable avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder among adult respondents to the National Eating Disorders Association online screen: a cross-sectional study
JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, v 11(1), 214
04 Dec 2023
PMID: 38049869
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
BackgroundAvoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a serious, albeit under-researched, feeding or eating disorder. This exploratory study utilized data from adult respondents to the National Eating Disorders Association online eating disorder screen to validate items assessing the presence of ARFID and examine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and correlates of a positive ARFID screen.MethodsAmong 50,082 adult screen respondents between January 2022 and January 2023, the prevalence of a positive ARFID screen was calculated. Chi-square tests and t-tests compared demographics, eating disorder attitudes and behaviors, suicidal ideation, current eating disorder treatment status, and eating disorder treatment-seeking intentions between respondents with possible ARFID and other eating disorder diagnostic and risk categories. Clinical characteristics of respondents with possible ARFID were also examined.Results2378 (4.7%) adult respondents screened positive for ARFID. Respondents with possible ARFID tended to be younger, male, and have lower household income, and were less likely to be White and more likely to be Hispanic/Latino than most other diagnostic/risk groups. They had lower weight/shape concerns and eating disorder behaviors than most other diagnoses and higher BMI than those with AN. 35% reported suicidal ideation, 47% reported intentions to seek treatment for an eating disorder, and 2% reported currently being in treatment. The most common clinical feature of ARFID was lack of interest in eating (80%), followed by food sensory avoidance (55%) and avoidance of food due to fear of aversive consequences (31%).ConclusionsFindings from this study indicated that ARFID was prevalent among adult screen respondents and more common among individuals who were younger, male, non-White, Hispanic, and lower income relative to those with other eating disorders, at risk for an eating disorder, or at low risk. Individuals with possible ARFID frequently reported suicidal ideation and were rarely in treatment for an eating disorder. Further research is urgently needed to improve advances in the assessment and treatment of ARFID and improve access to care in order to prevent prolonged illness duration. This study examined data from adult respondents to a publicly available online eating disorders screen adult to examine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and correlates of a positive ARFID screen. 4.7% of respondents screened positive for ARFID. A positive ARFID screen was more common among respondents who were younger, male, non-White, Hispanic, and lower income relative to those in other eating disorder diagnostic/risk categories. Respondents with possible ARFID frequently reported suicidal ideation and were rarely in treatment for an eating disorder. Lack of interest in food or eating was the most common clinical feature among those with possible ARFID.
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Details
- Title
- Prevalence, characteristics, and correlates of probable avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder among adult respondents to the National Eating Disorders Association online screen: a cross-sectional study
- Publication Details
- JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, v 11(1), 214
- Publisher
- BMC; LONDON
- Grant note
- Not applicable.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Drexel University
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001112856500001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85178429980
- Other Identifier
- 991021860720204721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Nutrition & Dietetics
- Psychiatry
- Psychology, Clinical