Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is characterized by which of the following?

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is primarily characterized by an eating pattern that leads to significant health impairment and nutritional deficiency. Individuals with ARFID may avoid certain foods, restrict their intake, or exhibit a lack of interest in eating, which can result in insufficient caloric consumption and a variety of nutritional deficiencies.

This condition differs from other eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa, which is characterized by a fear of weight gain and may involve behaviors aimed at preventing weight gain, such as starvation. While individuals with ARFID can experience health complications due to their restricted eating, their primary motivation is not driven by a fear of gaining weight, unlike in anorexia.

The other characteristics listed, such as binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors (typically associated with bulimia nervosa) or the consumption of nonfood items (indicative of Pica), do not align with the diagnostic criteria of ARFID either. Instead, ARFID specifically emphasizes the result of inadequate nutrient intake that adversely affects physical health, which aligns perfectly with the correct answer regarding significant health impairment and nutritional deficiency.