ARFID is not about dieting or body image or weight loss, but the symptoms and signs of ARFID can often be mistaken for anorexia or bulimia It is more than being a fussy eater or a picky eater. There can be a fear of food, anxiety around swallowing or chewing or eating in public, or an extreme sensitivity to taste, texture or smell. Sometimes it might be related to a trauma, such as a hospital stay or emotional event around food or to neurodivergence. Another sign of ARFID might be the reduction in the variety of foods someone might eat.