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This conference will serve as a vital platform for bringing together experts, researchers, clinicians and advocates to foster a deeper understanding of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).
We will learn from child and adolescent services, eating disorder services and experts in the field to develop a consensus on best practice. Vital lived experience will be shared from an adult with ARFID, as well as a person with lived experiences of autism combined with an eating disorder. Case studies will be explored where we will support delegates to discuss and understand approaches to treatments and pathways to effective care and recovery. We will also reflect on meeting the February 2026 NHS England Guidance for Eating Disorders which specifically discusses ARFID:
“ARFID presentations: ICBs should develop and deliver ARFID care pathways, which might include provision outside of dedicated CEDS (for example, for under 5s), as specialist CEDS intervention may not always address the primary presenting need for CYP presenting with ARFID”
NHS England January 2026
“We worked closely with NHS England during the drafting process and will do all we can to support its implementation. We’re pleased by the focus upon issues we’ve long been campaigning on, including early intervention, addressing inequalities in care, access to intensive community and day treatment options, and support for families and carers. It’s particularly positive that avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) has been included – now, it’s crucial that all NHS integrated care boards respond by developing a dedicated and evidence-based care pathway.”
Tom Quinn, Director of External Affairs at Beat January 2026
“Currently, it is extremely difficult for people under the age of 8 and over the age of 18 to be diagnosed with ARFID unless a person seeks private healthcare, and beyond that, there is very limited treatment available.”
The Right to Health: People with Eating Disorders are being failed, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eating Disorders, January 2025
“Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) can have a significant negative impact on the lives of the individuals who live with it, and on the lives of their families. Those living with ARFID, or its effects, can often feel very worried, isolated, and unsure of where to turn to for reliable information and support. ARFID is also a relatively new eating disorder. This means that the knowledge and evidence base is continuing to grow and services for those with ARFID are continuing to be developed. This can add to the frustrations of those seeking help.”
Clare Ellison, ARFID Project Lead and Advanced Eating Disorders Dietician, NENC Provider Collaborative
This conference will facilitate networking opportunities and foster collaborations that will pave the way for supporting ARFID both clinically and the broader community, in schools and education. By attending you will be participating in a crucial conversation on how we unravel the complexities of ARFID and the ways we can treat it moving forward.
Benefits of attending this conference will enable you to:
Network with colleagues who are working to improve services, practice and treatment for people who are experiencing Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Understand the national context and evidence base
Reflect on the lived experience of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Understand the current challenges around ARFID as a newer diagnosis and the current challenges in treatment and service delivery
Examine the 2026 NHS England National Guidance on Eating Disorders for children and young people and implications and requirements for ARFID
Develop your skills and improve competence in delivering ARFID services for children and adults
Learn from an specialist ARFID CNS on how we can support people to improve relationships with food
Explore the links between ARFID and neurodiversity and enable Neurodiversity Affirming Practice
Understand the impact on child development and why young children develop feeding difficulties
Identify the holistic effect ARFID has on children and families
Learn from current best practice in treatment of ARFID from dietitians and researchers
Understand the incidence of ARFID and why it is changing
Develop best practice in safe refeeding of malnourished patients with restrictive eating disorders
Ensure you are up to date with current consensus on treating ARFID in patients with autism and explore the complications that having both diagnosis can have
Improve the way you develop recovery focused care plans and assess risk on transition of care
Self assess and reflect on your own practice
Supports CPD professional development and acts as revalidation evidence. This course provides 5 Hrs training for CPD subject to peer group approval for revalidation purposes
