ARFID screening test (NIAS)

The NIAS (Nine Item ARFID Screen) is a short questionnaire for avoidant/restrictive food intake — eating patterns that are not about body image. Its nine items cover three dimensions: picky or selective eating, low appetite or forgetting to eat, and fear of unpleasant consequences such as choking or feeling sick.

This is a self-check you can complete online in about three minutes, with an instant result across the three dimensions and a plain-language interpretation. It is a first orientation, not a diagnosis — a formal assessment of ARFID is always made by a qualified professional.

Written from a neurodivergence-affirming stance: restrictive eating co-occurs often with autism (roughly one in four to one in three autistic people), where texture, taste and interoception differences shape food choices. This is a sensory and nervous-system reality and a support need, not fussiness or a lack of willpower.

  • 9 items across 3 dimensions, about 3 minutes, instant result
  • Based on the NIAS (Zickgraf & Ellis, 2018)
  • Anonymous — nothing to sign up for
  • Screening for orientation only, not a clinical diagnosis
Zickgraf & Ellis, 2018 (itemi); Burton Murray et al., 2021 (praguri pe subscale)

NIAS

A 9-item screening questionnaire on restrictive eating across three dimensions: picky eating, low appetite, and fear of aversive consequences of eating (GI discomfort, choking, vomiting).

"What does this mean?" if a question is not clear, tap this under the question for a plain explanation.
"Not sure about my answer" if your answer is only an approximation, mark it. It does not change the score — it just shows me where we can come back together.
9 items -- ~3 min
Local-first - your data stays on device
0 / 90%
Keys 1-6 for quick answer
How much do you agree with each statement about the way you eat?
Picky eating
Question 1 of 9. I am a picky eater.
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
Question 2 of 9. I dislike most of the foods that other people eat.
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
Question 3 of 9. The list of foods that I like and will eat is shorter than the list of foods I won't eat.
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
Appetite
Question 4 of 9. I am not very interested in eating; I seem to have a smaller appetite than other people.
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
Question 5 of 9. I have to push myself to eat regular meals throughout the day, or to eat a large enough amount of food at meals.
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
Question 6 of 9. Even when I am eating a food I really like, it is hard for me to eat a large enough volume at meals.
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
Fear
Question 7 of 9. I avoid or put off eating because I am afraid of GI discomfort, choking, or vomiting.
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
Question 8 of 9. I restrict myself to certain foods because I am afraid that other foods will cause GI discomfort, choking, or vomiting.
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
Question 9 of 9. I eat small portions because I am afraid of GI discomfort, choking, or vomiting.
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
0/9 answered -- 0%