Local News Sacramento expert explains ARFID, an eating disorder often mistaken for being a picky eater

SACRAMENTO – Experts in Sacramento are seeing a rise in a little-known eating disorder that primarily affects adolescents. It's called ARFID and can often be mistaken for just being a picky eater.

ARFID stands for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. It's an eating disorder but there's a big difference when you compare it to something like anorexia.

"The difference is it's not driven by body image issues. So it would be kiddos who struggle with textures and flavors of food to where it really limits the amount of food they can have," said Leilani Sechler, the clinical director at Eating Recovery Center in Sacramento.

Sechler said in addition to aversion to taste and textures, people can have a fear of eating in public or might be worried about throwing up in front of people.

She says cases of ARFID are on the rise.