Dear Friends of Feeding Matters,

At Feeding Matters, our work has always been to support families of children with pediatric feeding disorder (PFD) and the professionals who care for them. As part of this work, we support families coping with ARFID (avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder) and other feeding challenges. As PFD and ARFID gain more visibility, our role in guiding the field through the complexities of their overlap has become increasingly important.

The growing awareness of ARFID is a positive development, shedding light on the struggles faced by individuals who have often been mislabeled as simply “picky eaters.” However, as ARFID enters the public consciousness, it’s crucial to consider its relationship with PFD. Whenever ARFID is mentioned in social media or news outlets, I find myself asking: Is this a case of PFD evolving into ARFID? Is the conversation around ARFID missing the context of PFD? How can we present PFD as clearly and effectively as ARFID is being discussed? And most importantly, how do we guide our community through this complexity?

This is where our consensus efforts for ARFID and PFD come into play. We have two fields (the eating disorder and pediatric feeding fields) working with similar populations, yet often speaking in isolation. Unfortunately, families are caught in the middle. Much of my work involves addressing the overlap between these disorders and considering what provides the best outcomes for children.  Leading this effort is a responsibility I take very seriously.

The path to fully understanding and addressing the overlap between PFD and ARFID will be a long one. It will take years of research and sustained public education. For families, it’s essential that we honor their journey. No matter their diagnosis, we must honor their stories and the trauma they may have experienced. For professionals, our goal is to provide the tools, evidence, and education needed for earlier identification, assessment, and management of these disorders.

Your input and feedback are crucial to this process. We will continue to collaborate with experts, families, and the wider community. Together, we will lead this conversation with compassion, ensuring our approach remains trauma-informed and safe for all.

Thank you for being part of this vital effort,

Jaclyn Pederson, MHI
Feeding Matters CEO