What is OSFED and what counts as disordered eating?
If you or someone you know is struggling with eating disorders, please reach out for support from the list of organisations Emergency Support
What is ‘Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder’ (OSFED)?
Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder are diagnosed using a list of expected behavioural, psychological, and physical symptoms (found in the DSM-5).
Sometimes a person’s symptoms don’t exactly fit the expected symptoms for any of these three specific eating disorders. In that case, they might be diagnosed with an “other specified feeding or eating disorder” (OSFED).
As OSFED is an umbrella term, people diagnosed with it may experience very different symptoms.
Examples of OSFED
Atypical anorexia – where someone has all the symptoms a doctor looks for to diagnose anorexia, but their weight is not in the 'underweight' BMI range.
Bulimia nervosa (of low frequency and/or limited duration) – where someone has all of the symptoms of bulimia, except the binge/purge cycles don’t happen as often or over as long a period of time as doctors would expect.
Binge eating disorder (of low frequency and/or limited duration) – where someone has all of the symptoms of binge eating disorder, except the binges don’t happen as often or over as long a period of time as doctors would expect.
Purging disorder – where someone purges, for example by being sick or using laxatives, to affect their weight or shape, but this isn’t as part of binge/purge cycles.
Night eating syndrome – where someone repeatedly eats at night, either after waking up from sleep, or by eating a lot of food after their evening meal.
What is Disordered Eating?
Disordered eating doesn't just mean eating disorders. It includes the binge and restrict cycle, the dieting cycle, restriction of amounts or times of food, overeating in the name of a cheat day and then fasting the next day. It also encompasses exercising with a view to burn off excess calories consumed. All of these patterns are frighteningly similar to eating disorders, but it may be that the behaviour isn't at the level required for clinical diagnosis. Be aware that this doesn't make the behaviour healthy!
"Disordered eating is the norm in western society" - Laura Thomas, PhD
