STATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN JENIFER RAJKUMAR PASSES HISTORIC LEGISLATION RECOGNIZING ARFID AS AN EATING DISORDER IN NEW YORK

 

RAJKUMAR’S BILL RECOGNIZES THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS LIVING WITH AVOIDANT/RESTRICTIVE FOOD INTAKE DISORDER, OPENS NEW ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND TREATMENT, AND ALIGNS THE LAWBOOKS WITH MODERN MEDICAL SCIENCE

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar proudly announced the passage of her landmark legislation A9600A establishing once and for all that Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is recognized as an eating disorder in New York State. First classified in 2013, ARFID is characterized by persistent limitations in food intake based on anxiety over adverse consequences from eating; sensory sensitivity; or lack of interest. Unlike anorexia or bulimia, it is not driven by body dysmorphia. It is often associated with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and other conditions. Historically dismissed as “picky eating,” ARFID is estimated to affect as much as 3% of the population, though the actual number may be much higher due to the lack of diagnoses.

Rajkumar’s bill recognizes and addresses the challenges people with ARFID face by adding it to the list of eating disorders officially recognized by the State. A slew of laws will now apply to the disorder, including those relating to insurance coverage, educational campaigns, and State-directed treatment centers.

The Assemblywoman authored and unanimously passed the bill after hearing from constituents whose families were living with the challenges of ARFID every day. The bill’s overwhelming momentum inspired more and more people, including her Albany colleagues and others working in the Capital, to come forward with stories of how ARFID was impacting them.

Assemblywoman Rajkumar said, "When families came to me describing how ARFID was upending their lives, I knew I had to take action. ARFID is a real, serious eating disorder recognized by modern medicine, and I am making sure our laws reflect that reality. By passing my bill, we are affirming that New Yorkers living with ARFID are seen, understood, and supported. This is about replacing misunderstanding with awareness and ensuring that science, compassion, and common sense guide public policy."