Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a mental health condition that goes beyond picky eating and can affect your health, nutrition, and daily life.
An ARFID test can help you identify patterns, but it can’t diagnose the condition.
If your eating habits are affecting your well-being, a healthcare provider can help you explore treatment options and next steps.
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is more than just picky eating. While many people have food preferences, ARFID involves a level of food restriction that can affect your nutrition, physical health, daily functioning, or quality of life.
If you’re wondering if your eating habits may be linked to ARFID, taking our ARFID test can be a helpful place to start. This quiz can help you reflect on your experiences and if they may be consistent with signs of ARFID.
Do you avoid many foods because of their texture, smell, taste, temperature, or appearance?
Self-test for ARFID
This quiz is designed to help you reflect on your eating habits and relationship with food. As you go through the questions below, respond with the answer that feels truest to you.
Answer yes or no to the following statements:
Do you avoid many foods because of their texture, smell, taste, temperature, or appearance?
Do you feel anxious, fearful, or distressed about trying new foods?
Have your eating habits made it difficult to get enough nutrition or maintain a healthy weight?
Do you eat a much smaller variety of foods than most people your age?
Do you avoid social events, restaurants, or gatherings because of food-related concerns?
Have family members, friends, or healthcare providers expressed concern about your eating habits?
Do you rely on a limited number of "safe" foods that feel comfortable or predictable to eat?
Have your eating habits caused problems at school, work, home, or in relationships?
Have your eating habits stayed the same or become more restrictive over time, despite causing problems in your daily life?
What your test results can mean
This quiz was designed by a licensed mental health professional to help you reflect on eating habits that may be linked to AFRID. The questions focus on common signs of ARFID, like avoiding certain foods, eating a limited variety of foods, and feeling distressed around eating.
Count how many times you answered yes and no, and review the results below:
Mostly yes: Your answers suggest you may be experiencing several signs of ARFID. Your eating habits may be affecting your nutrition, daily life, or relationship with food. It may be helpful to talk with a licensed mental health professional about your concerns.
Mostly no: Your answers suggest your eating habits aren’t consistent with ARFID. While you may have food preferences or occasional challenges with eating, your responses don’t show a strong pattern of restrictive eating.
A mix of yes and no answers: Your answers suggest you may be experiencing some signs of ARFID, but the overall picture is less clear. You may struggle with certain foods or situations without experiencing significant difficulties in other areas.
ARFID can look different for each person. This quiz isn’t a diagnosis, but it can help you notice patterns in your eating habits. If your results stand out to you, a mental health professional can help you better understand what’s going on and discuss possible next steps.
How our ARFID quiz works
This quiz looks at some of the most common signs of AFRID. The questions focus on things like avoiding certain foods, eating a limited variety of foods, anxiety around eating, and the impact that eating habits can have on daily life. These are all experiences that may be seen in people with ARFID.
That said, no online quiz can tell you for certain if you have ARFID. The results can help you spot patterns and decide if it may be worth exploring your symptoms further. Think of this quiz as a starting point for self-reflection rather than a diagnosis.
It’s also important to know that you can't fully self-diagnose ARFID. Other conditions, medical concerns, sensory differences, or eating disorders can sometimes look similar. A mental healthcare professional can look at the full picture, rule out other causes, and determine if ARFID is the best explanation for your symptoms.
If your results resonate with you, consider reaching out to a mental health professional or healthcare provider. Getting answers can be the first step toward finding support and feeling more confident around food.
Other ways to test for ARFID
An online quiz can be a helpful starting point, but it isn’t the only way to screen for ARFID. Researchers have developed several ARFID-specific questionnaires [1], including the Nine-Item ARFID Screen [2] and the Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder Interview ARFID Questionnaire [3]. These tools are designed to identify common ARFID symptoms and help determine if a more thorough evaluation may be needed.
A provider won’t use a screening tool alone to diagnose ARFID. They’ll also ask about your eating habits, medical history, nutrition, and how your symptoms affect daily life.
ARFID is often identified during childhood [4] because eating challenges may be easier for parents, teachers, and healthcare providers to notice. However, people can be evaluated at any age. Some teens and adults aren’t assessed until later in life because their symptoms were mistaken for picky eating or sensory sensitivities when they were younger.
Next steps for evaluating ARFID
If your results stood out to you, consider talking with a provider. They can help you get a clearer picture of your overall mental health.
People are usually diagnosed with ARFID when their eating habits start affecting their health or daily life. This might include trouble getting enough nutrition, avoiding social events because of food, or eating a very limited range of foods.
If you’re concerned about ARFID, here are some steps you can take:
Talk with your doctor. They can discuss your symptoms and check for medical concerns.
Meet with a mental health professional. They can evaluate your symptoms and help determine if ARFID may be present.
Consider working with a dietitian. A dietitian [5] can help you meet your nutrition needs and expand food choices.
Seek support early. You don’t have to wait until symptoms become severe to get help.
Learn about treatment options. Treatment may include therapy, nutrition support, or both.
The most important thing to know is that help is available. Many people with ARFID learn new skills, expand their food choices, and improve their relationship with food over time.
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One clue I often hear from clients with ARFID is that their food restrictions don't feel like a preference. Certain foods may trigger intense anxiety, disgust, or fear, making it feel impossible to eat them even when they want to. That's very different from simply disliking a food.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Clinical reviewer
Find care with Rula
If you’ve been wondering if your eating habits are more than just picky eating, an ARFID test can be a helpful place to start. Only a healthcare provider can diagnose ARFID. But understanding the signs can be an important step in getting the support you deserve. With the right treatment, many people improve their relationship with food.
At Rula, we’re here to help you feel better. Rula makes it easy to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who takes your insurance. That way, you don’t have to choose between great care and a price you can afford.
Rula patients pay about $15 per session with insurance, and 93% say they feel better after getting care through Rula. We have 21,000+ providers, and appointments are available as soon as tomorrow. We’re here to help you take the next step — wherever you are in your mental health journey.
References
- Assessing Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) Symptoms Using the Nine Item ARFID Screen in >9000 Swedish Adults With and Without Eating Disorders https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11560655/
- Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake disorder screen (NIAS) - Child https://pathwaysbc-production-content-item-documents.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/7515/original/NIAS%20Questionnaire.pdf?1698951104
- Development of the Pica, ARFID, and Rumination Disorder Interview, a multi-informant, semi-structured interview of feeding disorders across the lifespan: A pilot study for ages 10 to 22 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6453710/
- Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8185640/
- Dietetic‐Led Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ARFID: A Novel Approach to Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder With Case Studies https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12231925/
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Having faced challenges like childhood abuse, neglect, and the loss of her father to suicide, Brandy Chalmers is deeply passionate about providing compassionate care. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Brandy also teaches at a university, sharing her expertise with future mental health professionals. With over a decade of experience in settings like inpatient care and private practice, she specializes in helping clients with perfectionism, trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, and life changes.
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