Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)

The eating disorders in this category are related to anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder but differ in that not all of the same conditions apply.

Examples include:

• Atypical anorexia nervosa: all of the same characteristics as anorexia nervosa; however, the person’s weight is within or above the “average” range for age and height. This could occur, for instance, when a person starts at a higher weight and drops weight to the point that they are experiencing cardiac instability,
• Bulimia nervosa (of low frequency and/or limited duration): all of the same characteristics as for bulimia nervosa, however the cycle of bingeing and purging occurs less frequently than once per week and/or for fewer than three months.
• Binge-eating disorder (of low frequency and/or limited duration): all of the same characteristics as for binge-eating disorder; however the binge-eating episodes occur less frequently than once per week and/or for fewer than three months.
• Purging disorder: Persistent purging behaviours without the presence of binge-eating episodes.
• Night eating syndrome: The excessive consumption of food following an evening meal or after waking from sleep in the night, which causes extreme psychological distress and interferes with daily functioning.

All information taken from the National Eating Disorder Information Centre website © 2014