Micronutrient Risk in Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): Rethinking Nutritional Assessment Beyond Body Weight

This narrative review, titled “Micronutrient Risk in Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): Rethinking Nutritional Assessment Beyond Body Weight,” examines the potential micronutrient deficiencies and nutritional complications associated with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). It explores the limitations of relying solely on body weight and conventional anthropometric indicators to assess nutritional status in individuals with restrictive eating patterns. Drawing on existing literature, the review discusses the importance of comprehensive nutritional assessment, including dietary intake, micronutrient adequacy, clinical indicators, and individualized evaluation of nutritional risk. It highlights how food avoidance, limited dietary variety, and persistent restrictive eating behaviours may contribute to nutritional inadequacies that are not always apparent through body weight alone. By synthesizing relevant evidence, this narrative review emphasizes the need for a comprehensive, individualized approach to nutritional assessment and care for individuals with ARFID and identifies important considerations for clinical nutrition practice and future research.