“We are given this huge responsibility”: Parents’ experiences of physical health risk and medical care in ARFID

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is associated with significant physical health complications, yet little is known about how families experience and manage these risks or access medical care. This study aimed to explore parents' experiences of physical health complications, medical risk, and healthcare in children and adolescents with ARFID. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 parents of children and adolescents (aged 4-17 years) with a formal diagnosis of ARFID or who met DSM-5 criteria for ARFID at study screening without a formal diagnosis. Participants were r