also been used for such conditions. 
Associated Features Supporting Diagnosis 
Several features may be associated with food avoidance or reduced food intake, including
a lack of interest in eating or food, leading to weight loss or faltering growth. Very young
infants may present as being too sleepy, distre ssed, or agitated to feed. Infants and young
children may not engage with the primary ca regiver during feeding or communicate hun-
ger in favor of other activities. In older child ren and adolescents, food  avoidance or restric-
tion may be associated with more generali zed emotional difficulties that do not meet
diagnostic criteria for an an xiety, depressive, or bipolar disorder, sometimes called “food
avoidance emotional disorder.” 
Development and Course
Food avoidance or restriction associated with in sufficient intake or lack of interest in eat-
ing most commonly develops in infancy or early childhood and may persist in adulthood.
Likewise, avoidance based on sensory characterist ics of food tends to arise in the first de-
cade of life but may persist into adulthood. Avoidance related to aversive consequences
can arise at any age. The scant literature re garding long-term outcomes suggests that food
avoidance or restriction based on sensory aspects is relatively stable and long-standing,
but when persisting into adulthood, such avoidance/restriction can be associated with rel-
atively normal functioning. There is currently insufficient evidence directly linking avoid-
ant/restrictive food intake disorder and subsequent onset of an eating disorder. 
Infants with avoidant/restrictive food intake  disorder may be irritable and difficult to
console during feeding, or ma y appear apathetic and withdrawn. In some instances, par-
ent-child interaction may contri bute to the infant’s feeding problem (e.g., presenting food