ARFID treatment for young children & teens

Specialist Private Treatment Centre for Eating Disorders

Taking the First Step Toward Recovery

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a complex eating disorder that extends far beyond typical picky eating. Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not driven by concerns about body image but can significantly impact a child or teenager’s growth, nutrition, and emotional well-being.

What is ARFID?

ARFID is characterised by extreme food restriction and persistent avoidance, resulting in significant nutritional deficiencies. Unlike other eating disorders, it is not related to body image concerns or weight gain fears. Instead, children and teens with ARFID may avoid food due to:

  • Sensory Sensitivities: Strong reactions to textures, smells, tastes, or appearances of food.
  • Lack of Interest in Eating or Disturbance in Hunger Cues: Often leading to skipped meals or very small portions.
  • Fear-Based Avoidance: Experiences of choking, vomiting, or stomach pain that lead to a fear of eating certain foods.

ARFID in children can result in delayed growth, significant weight loss and severe nutritional deficiencies. It can also take a heavy emotional toll—children may feel anxious, frustrated, or isolated, while parents often feel powerless to help.

ARFID vs. Picky Eating—What’s the Difference?

While many children experience phases of picky eating, most still meet their nutritional needs.. ARFID is far more severe and can lead to serious health complications due to poor nutrition. Children with ARFID may also experience extreme distress around mealtimes, with the impact of their food restriction causing a significant disruption to their day to day life, as well as on their families and carers.  If your child’s eating habits are impacting their health, mood, or daily life, specialist professional support is likely to be needed.

What Causes ARFID?

ARFID can result from a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Some children are more at risk, including those with:

  • Autism or ADHD

  • Anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

  • A history of severe picky eating in early childhood

ARFID may also predispose someone to developing Anorexia Nervosa at a later stage in life.  It can also coexist with another form of eating disorder making it somewhat harder to detect. 

Signs & Symptoms of ARFID

Behavioural Signs:

ARFID can result from a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Some children are more at risk, including those with:

  • Eating a very limited range of foods (e.g., only specific textures or brands)
  • Avoiding entire food groups or refusing unfamiliar foods
  • Anxiety about eating, choking, or vomiting
  • Lack of appetite without a clear medical reason
  • Eating slowly or needing distractions to eat

Physical Signs:

  • Noticeable weight loss or difficulty gaining weight
  • Digestive issues like bloating, nausea, or constipation
  • Low energy, feeling cold often, or dizziness
  • Signs of malnutrition such as thinning hair, brittle nails, or dry skin
  • Irregular or missing periods in teenage girls

If you notice these signs, seeking professional help can make a meaningful difference.

How is ARFID Treated?

Treatment is tailored to each child’s unique needs. Depending on severity, treatment may be offered as outpatient support or, in more serious cases, require inpatient care.

At The London Centre, our team of experts—including doctors, psychologists, occupational therapists, and dietitians—works collaboratively to help children:

  • Safely improve nutritional intake

  • Reduce anxiety around food

  • Develop healthier eating behaviours over time

For children over 10, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR) is the most effective approach. For younger children, a form of family-based therapy often yields the best results. These treatments help children gradually increase food variety, manage sensory sensitivities, and build confidence around eating.

Help is Available

If your child’s eating habits are causing distress, you don’t have to face this journey alone. At The London Centre, we offer specialist treatment for  ARFID for children and teens, providing compassionate, expert care. Our team is here to support you and your family every step of the way.

With the right support and resources, recovery is achievable. Together, we can guide your child toward a healthier, more balanced relationship with food.

 

The London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image is a leading private health clinic offering specialised care for children, adolescents and adults in Central London.

We offer treatments for individuals with different types of eating disorders and body image difficulties, including:

  • Anorexia Nervosa
  • Bulimia Nervosa
  • Binge Eating Disorder
  • Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)
  • Emotional Eating
  • Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
  • Other related conditions can often be comorbidities ie depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, OCD, perfectionism, Trauma/PTSD and borderline personality disorder (BPD)


Therapy options available in our Central London clinic include:

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT and CBT-E) CBT-E is a more enhanced form of generic CBT which focuses more on thoughts and feelings about eating, weight and shape

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy -Ten (CBT-T)

  • CBT-AR (specific for ARFID)

  • CBT-BDD (specific for Body Dysmorphia)

  • Schema Therapy

  • Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

  • Compassion Focussed Therapy (CFT)

  • Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT)

  • MANTRA (Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults)

  • Eye Movement. Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM) for severe and enduring anorexia

  • Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Dietetic Therapy

  • Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)

  • 121 Emotional Eating Programme (8 weeks)

  • Psychiatry (medical monitoring and prescription service)

  • Integrative Therapy

  • Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

  • Integrative Psychotherapy

  • Person Centred Therapy

  • Transactional Analysis (TA)

  • Mindfulness Based Therapy

  • Low Cost Psychology with a Trainee Psychologist (this is £75/session) and with one of our Trainees who are in their final years of their Doctorate training
    Systemic Therapy (Family Based Therapy/Family Therapy)

  • Family Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (FT-AN)

  • Family Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa (FT-BN)

  • Family Based Treatment for ARFID (FBT-ARFID)

  • Radically Open Dialectical Behaviour (RO-DBT) Informed Therapy

Specialist Team

The London Centre is a specialist multi-disciplinary team of expert health professionals trained in evidence-based treatments for eating disorders. The team consists of:

  • Psychiatrists

  • Clinical Psychologists

  • Counselling Psychologists

  • Trainee Psychologists

  • Occupational Therapists

  • Dietitians

  • Family/Couple Therapists

Diverse Treatment Options

With our team's expertise, we offer a variety of treatment options tailored to your needs, providing both in-person and remote consultations for your convenience.

Personalised Care

We believe that it's important to align our clients with both the right clinician and the appropriate treatment. While we ensure the use of evidence-based therapies we also ensure taking the time to listen to client preferences. This approach enables us to find the therapist and approach that best suits your needs.
 

Testimonials

Testimonials

“I never thought my disordered eating would be something I'd be able to begin tackling, let alone come out the other side of, but thanks to the staff at The London Centre for Eating Disorders and Body Image I've been able to do both. The team were always judgement-free and supportive through what was a difficult journey at times, but I can safely say that they have immeasurably improved my life for the better.”

January 2024

“I can't thank The London Centre enough for changing my life, when I really thought it wouldn't be possible. I felt heard and understood, and I am now in a place where I can confidently put all the tools I learned into practice.”

January 2024

I would highly recommend The London Centre. The staff were incredible and the treatment really helped. I'm so glad to have my life back on track and really owe it to the excellent quality of therapy.

March 2024

 

How it works

Our team conducts a comprehensive evaluation, leveraging the expertise of multiple specialists, to ensure that our treatment is effective and tailored to your recovery.

 

Step 1

Contact Us

Before making an appointment you can contact us with any questions you might have via phone, email or by using our online contact form. Your first contact will more than likely be with Kerry, our wonderful PA.

Step 2

Assessment

Before the initial session, clients are requested to complete a brief questionnaire regarding their current circumstances, preferences, and availability for appointments. While not mandatory, this information assists us in matching individuals with the most suitable clinician.

Step 3

First Session

Following the assessment, clients will have a session to discuss their recommended treatment plan. A start date will be agreed upon, and arrangements will be made for an initial session.
 

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FAQs

 

  • The fees do vary depending on, which clinician you see. For a full summary of our fees, what health insurance company policies we accept, and details about making payments please click the link. (https://www.thelondoncentre.co.uk/fees)

  • Our Team PA, Kerry, is available to answer any questions you may have prior to booking an assessment. If you would like to discuss treatment options or have a general conversation prior to booking, you are able to schedule a call with Mini Jones, our Clinic Lead who is always happy to discuss any questions or concerns. For further information, or to request a call back, please click the link provided to get in touch via email, phone, or through our online contact form.(https://www.thelondoncentre.co.uk/book-an-appointment)

  • It is important to note that we do have a 24 hour cancellation policy on all booked appointments. Any cancellations received within 24 hours remain fully charged.

    We request payment for an initial assessment appointment in advance of your appointment, which you can make over the phone using a debit or credit card or via the secure payment link sent to you with your invoice. For any further treatment sessions, and unless covered by private health insurance, we will invoice you sessionally which is payable upon receipt, however, we offer a maximum 30-day period in order to receive payment.

    All appointment reminders will be sent to you via our client management system ‘Cliniko’ - notifications@cliniko.com please do add this email address to your inbox contacts to ensure all communications are received promptly.

  • Therapy is most effective when a series of appointments tailored to your individual requirements can be established. The NICE guidelines are between 20-40 appointments but we are guided by our clients depending on their needs, preference, and motivation to adopt change. We will always remain flexible to accommodate your preferences.