TikTok influencer Andrew Luber, known as “Arfid” Andrew virtually attended UWM’s Eating Disorder Awareness Week event Beyond the Plate to discuss his experience living with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Luber advocated for exposure therapy and gave hope for individuals and families that are affected by ARFID.
Since posting for the first time in June of 2024, Luber has gained over 200,000 followers by posting videos of himself trying new foods, which he calls exposures. His real, vulnerable reactions have made him an inspiration to others with eating disorders.
“It really feels like it’s out of my control,” Luber said. “For most of my life it was even the idea of food. I wouldn’t even have to be around certain foods. I could just think about it, and it would get me gagging.”
ARFID is a newer diagnosis with symptoms such as lack of interest in food, sensory sensitivity and fear of choking, vomiting or getting sick due to eating, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Luber did not receive his ARFID diagnosis until later in his life, after continually going through therapists as a child.
“I remember when I was a little kid trying to put an apple in my mouth and throwing up,” Luber said. “That was pretty traumatic, but I don’t have a first memory of ARFID because it has just been my whole life.”
Luber started doing exposures in 2019 when he moved to Los Angeles, and he noticed how much ARFID was affecting his social life. Luber experienced struggles with dating and going to restaurants with people in general. Since posting his exposures, Luber has improved tremendously by being more open to new foods and even incorporating some of the foods he has tried into his regular diet.
“It seemed like it was inevitable and that the only way for me to really get better was through exposures,” Luber said. “Putting myself out there on TikTok was the best thing I ever did.”
A variety of people attended this event, from UWM students and parents to professors and health professionals.
“I did two years of medical school, so I have gotten a brief introduction,” event attendee Katie Stein said. “But I thought it was really interesting, especially the question asking how do you know if you just don’t like a food versus if it is ARFID.”
Along with Luber, there were four panelists at the event including Director of UWM’s Psychology Clinic Stacey Nye, Senior Psychiatrist Kelly Wahlen, Senior Nurse Practitioner Ann Schmidt and Registered Dietitian at Roger’s Behavioral Health Sara Gonzalez.
Event attendee Alex Weisshaar works at Roger’s Behavioral Health, specifically with patients living with eating disorders. Weisshaar attended the event to support her co-worker, Gonzalez.
“It was interesting to hear his perspective,” Weisshaar said, “And how long he has been dealing with this and how severe it has been for him, since I work with kids mostly.”
UWM’s psychology department has been holding Eating Disorder Awareness Week events annually since 2016, excluding 2020 due to COVID-19.
For information on upcoming psychology events at UWM visit: https://uwm.edu/psychology/clinic/events/