PWO T1 PICKY: Parental Involvement and Cocreation to Kickstart Change for Youth with ARFID

The professional field calls for action to better support parents when their child eats so little and so selectively that there is persistent “picky” eating behavior, or even an eating disorder such as ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). Researchers are joining forces with specialized multidisciplinary treatment centers in Belgium and the Netherlands to break the vicious cycle of selective/avoidant eating behavior and related family problems.

The Tripartite Model shows that parents can benefit from support in becoming role models for healthy eating behavior, demonstrating the necessary parenting and feeding competencies, and creating an emotionally supportive climate. This should make it easier for parents to implement sustainable change at home alongside treatment.

To achieve this, we are developing a practical tool through a phased co-creative process called Design Thinking (DT). In the first phase, we combine research methods to empathetically understand the expectations and barriers that parents and caregivers experience when trying to reduce problematic eating behavior at home. We define the priority needs and focus on what can be changed.

In the second phase, solutions are created to address these needs. A short but intensive design sprint is the preferred method here. The insights of parents are complemented with input from professionals/experts and an inventory of existing initiatives. Finally, a prototype with accompanying implementation strategies will be delivered, and we will test its added value and feasibility as a starting point for further research.