Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Treatment
Our Veterans Rehab Treatment Centers offer specialized treatment programs for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. With years of experience, Our Residential Mental Health Treatment Centers work tirelessly to meet your treatment needs.
WHAT IS Avoidant/Restrictive food intake disorder?

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is an eating disorder that causes people to under eat. This is either due to a lack of interest in food or an intense distaste for how certain foods look, smell, or taste.
This disorder is characterized by failing to meet minimum daily nutrition requirements because of a lack of interest in eating. Often, you avoid food with certain sensory characteristics, such as color, texture, smell or taste. Also linked commonly to anxiety disorders those who struggle are concerned about the consequences of eating, such as fear of choking. Food is not avoided because of fear of gaining weight.
The disorder can result in significant weight loss or failure to gain weight in childhood, as well as nutritional deficiencies that can cause health problems. Our Veterans Rehab and Detox Centers treatment programs treat ARFID through the use of various therapy practices like one on one therapy, group therapy, mindfulness techniques and nutritional groups.
Physical and Behavioral Symptoms
Physical signs and symptoms of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder may include:
- Skipping meals or making excuses for not eating
- Adopting an overly restrictive vegetarian diet
- Excessive focus on healthy eating
- Making own meals rather than eating what the family eats
- Withdrawing from normal social activities
- Persistent worry or complaining about being fat and talk of losing weight
- Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws
- Repeatedly eating large amounts of sweets or high-fat foods
- Use of dietary supplements, laxatives or herbal products for weight loss
- Excessive exercise
- Calluses on the knuckles from inducing vomiting
- Problems with loss of tooth enamel that may be a sign of repeated vomiting
- Leaving during meals to use the toilet
- Eating much more food in a meal or snack than is considered normal
- Expressing depression, disgust, shame or guilt about eating habits
- Eating in secret
Complications
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder can cause a wide variety of complications, some of them life-threatening. The more severe or long lasting the eating disorder, the more likely you are to experience serious complications, such as:
- Serious health problems
- Depression and anxiety
- Suicidal ideation or behavior
- Problems with growth and development
- Social and relationship problems
- Substance use disorders
- Work and school issues
- Death
How We Treat It
Psychotherapy
Through the groundbreaking use of integrative evidence-based therapies, our Veterans Rehab helps develop coping strategies for Eating Disorder Triggers, process what causes Eating Disorders, and develop Mental Wellness Plans for lifelong recovery from Eating Disorders.
Nutritional Groups
There is strong evidence that many of the symptoms of anorexia are actually symptoms of starvation. Starvation affects the brain and influences mood changes, rigidity in thinking, anxiety and reduction in appetite. Our Rehab offers nutritional courses to meet your needs and help you have a healthy relationship with food
Physical Fitness
We offer many healthy activities to promote physical fitness in a balanced way. Whether it's Yoga, Hitting the Gym, or going on a peaceful Meditative Walk, we encourage you to strengthen your body as well as your mind and spirit.
Call Today to Learn More

As a member of the VA Community Care Network, Warriors and First Responders Resorts can help. You can enroll into one of our specialized treatment programs yourself or refer someone. Our Veterans Rehab admissions staff is available to answer any questions and help to guide you through the process. Admissions staff members are there to arrange admissions, facilitate transportation, evaluate, and assist with insurance verification.
Once a Veteran enters our Rehab and completes their mental health evaluations, they will be given a daily schedule. It is important to adhere to all the rules and do their best to complete all the work laid out for them in their individualized treatment plan. When Veterans work hard on their recovery and want to improve their situation, they will experience the healing process. Those that enroll in our program have the opportunity to change and begin the journey to sobriety.
