Is it picky eating or something deeper?

Welcome back to another episode of the Diabetes Digital Podcast, and today we're unpacking

avoidant or restrictive food intake disorder, also known as ARFID, with our one and only registered

dietitian, Kristen Yumpung.

You may have never heard of ARFID before, but it's getting more intention lately. Even New York

magazine ran a recent cover story on this type of eating disorder. And what makes ARFID unique is that it's

not about dieting or body image. It's a type of eating disorder that is characterized by someone

avoiding or restricting food for reasons that have nothing to do with weight or shape.

Things like sensory sensitivities, fear of choking or vomiting, or general lack of interest in food.

And it can even go deeper than that. Some people develop our fit after a traumatic event around eating, like choking or food poisoning, other struggle with anxiety, OCD traits, or medical

trauma that makes trying new foods feel impossible. It can even lead to nutrient deficiencies,

fatigue, and social isolation, yet it's often mistaken for picky eating. Also, when we look at

Arfit through a cultural lens, the gaps and understanding get even bigger.

In Bipot communities, for example, Arfid is often missed, mislabeled, or misunderstood,

and cultural foods get pathologized, family dynamics are overlooked, and care often isn't

trauma-informed.

So in this episode, Kristen breaks down what Arfid really looks like, how it's often missed,

and why it can show up differently across cultures. We will also talk about how to expand

food variety without pressure or shame, navigate family dynamics if you are a loved one

is living with Arfid, and how to provide care through a trauma-informed

weight-inclusive lens.

Our guest today is Kristen Yomung, who is a registered dietitian at Diabetes Digital based

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