Why Food Anxiety Is Not Always About Dieting: Understanding ARFID and Intuitive Eating An interview with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C

Why Food Anxiety Is Not Always About Dieting: Understanding ARFID and Intuitive Eating - An interview with Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C

Diet culture often dominates conversations about eating disorders, but not all struggles with food are driven by weight, body image, or dieting. In this episode, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk with registered dietitian nutritionist and certified eating disorder specialist Robyn L. Goldberg about Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), intuitive eating, and how therapists can recognize when food anxiety requires a different clinical approach.

Robyn explains how ARFID differs from more familiar eating disorders, why it is often mislabeled as “picky eating,” and when intuitive eating principles need to be adapted or set aside. This conversation offers therapists practical guidance for assessment, referral, and collaboration with eating-disorder-informed dietitians.

Key Takeaways

ARFID is not driven by weight or body image concerns and is often rooted in sensory sensitivities, trauma, or fear of aversive consequences

Intuitive eating is not a one-size-fits-all model and may require significant structure for some clients

Rigid food rules and avoidance can be protective for clients but may also limit functioning and quality of life

Exposure-based approaches are often central to ARFID treatment and require specialized training

Therapists should refer to eating-disorder-informed dietitians when food restriction significantly impacts health or daily life

Guest Bio Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDS-C, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified eating disorder dietitian and consultant with over twenty-eight years of experience. She is the author of The Eating Disorder Trap, host of The Eating Disorder Trap Podcast, and a nationally recognized expert featured in major media outlets.

Full Show NotesRead the full show notes and resources at: https://www.mtsgpodcast.com

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Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits

Voiceover by DW McCannhttps://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Manganohttps://groomsymusic.com/