An Atypical Adult Presentation of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a rare eating disorder usually seen in children and adolescents; adult presentations are uncommon. We report a 46-year-old male patient with generalized rash, weight loss, and weakness. He underwent extensive investigations, including MRI, CSF, CT, PET-CT, bone marrow biopsy, and autoimmune/paraneoplastic screening, due to diagnostic uncertainty and the non-specific presentation. A multidisciplinary team identified ARFID related to disordered eating behaviors (rushed eating, fear of fullness). The diagnosis was based on the history taken from the patient about his eating habits and the absence of any other conditions that could explain the symptoms. He was managed with nasogastric feeding, nutritional supplementation, dietetic input, and psychiatric support, which led to symptom improvement and steady weight gain. This case illustrates an atypical adult presentation of ARFID with systemic manifestations, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary recognition and treatment.