Katzman DK, Spettigue W, Agostino H, et al. - In this first pediatric surveillance study of children and adolescents with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), the incidence and age- and gender-specific disparities in the clinical presentation of ARFID are examined in children and adolescents in Canada.

• Based on the Canadian Pediatric Surveillance Program survey, this cross-sectional study indicated ARFID incidence of 2.02 per 100,000 patients.

• There were age- and gender-specific differences for diagnostic criteria, medical characteristics, psychiatric comorbidities, eating behaviors, and hospitalization.

• More frequently older children and adolescents endorse eating too little, have a loss of appetite, are medically compromised, have higher rates of anxiety and depression, and are at risk of being hospitalized.

• Endorsement of lack of interest in food, avoidance of certain foods, and refusal based on sensory characteristics are more frequently observed among younger children.

• More commonly girls endorse eating but not enough, and boys have a higher rate of refusal based on sensory characteristics.