Although many think overeating or undereating is an unusual but frequent behavior that is practiced by many as a coping mechanism, sometimes it goes overboard and converts into an eating disorder, which is a mental condition that shouldn’t be underestimated. Common eating disorders include but are not limited to Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge eating disorder. Some of these exist that are uncategorized purely due to their symptoms not falling into any of the categories described previously. Therefore anything that doesn’t fall in any category is called Other specified feeding and eating disorder, or OSFED eating disorder, which is a clinical category that is used to describe their status of being uncategorized presently. We are here to discuss OSFED and everything pertaining to it in the words below:
The Question of the Day is Indeed: What is an OSFED Eating Disorder?
The OSFED criteria relate to how most of the prevalent symptoms (but do relate to eating disorders) an affected individual is suffering from don’t fall into a recognized category such as the ones described above, or even something like Pica (habit of eating something inedible such as sand) as they fall into Other specified feeding and eating disorder. To properly understand that, we need to go through different types of eating disorders and their symptoms that are there. This is because an affected person with OSFED often displays symptoms of other eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder but will not meet the full criteria for diagnosis of these disorders that usually show up around adolescence or adulthood and is capable of affected all genders(1,2). Let’s briefly talk about them(3) first before embarking on actually discussing the OSFED eating disorder.
Read More: Is eating disorder a mental illness?
Anorexia nervosa
A type of eating disorder that is characterized by severely limited calorie intake (even, at times, based on specific foods), body dysmorphia, and chronic fear of gaining weight (as the weight stays under a lot of the times when suffering from this one). It can be further divided into two different subtypes: the restrictive type (described above) and binge eating and the purging type, where after an episode of excessive eating, affected individuals also practice purging activities such as over boarded exercise and vomiting.
Bulimia Nervosa
People with Bulimia tend to eat large swaths of food often in a limited period of time. Its episode only stops when the affected one is extremely full and feels nauseated. Purging is also commonly seen in this type of eating disorder.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
BED is similar to Bulimia and the binge-eating subtype of Anorexia in more ways than one. But BED is missing one part that makes it dissimilar to others, which is people affected with BED don’t practice any kind of purging behavior such as excessive exercise and vomiting.
Read More: A major understanding of Signs and Symptoms of Eating disorders
Now, Let’s Get Back To OSFED Eating Disorder
OSFED eating disorder is an umbrella term that is used to describe the diagnosis of someone who doesn’t meet the criteria for another eating disorder. But there are a few examples(4) of OSFED eating disorders that tend to be relegated to this category including:
Atypical Anorexia:
It is essentially Anorexia, but without the sudden weight fluctuations that are found in it.
Bulimia Nervosa of Low Frequency or Limited Duration:
The symptoms in this OSFED Eating Disorder are similar to Bulimia Nervosa but the episodes of binging and purging are neither as long or frequent as actual Bulimia nor as intense as it, leading doctors not to diagnose Bulimia.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) of Low Frequency or Limited Duration:
The symptoms are similar to BED but the episodes of binging are neither as long or frequent as actual BED nor as intense as it, leading doctors not to diagnose BED.
Purging Disorder:
This type of Other specified feeding or eating disorder is all about purging the extra calories just so they can change their weight or shape without experiencing the binge/purge cycle.
Night Eating Syndrome:
This one arises when an affected individual always eats after waking up or has another food spell after the evening meal.
Read More: Types of Eating Disorders That Are More About Feelings Than Food
Recognizing OSFED Symptoms
These are the OSFED symptoms that can help you identify if there is an OSFED eating disorder in your system. The presence of these will not ensure that you indeed have an OSFED but if you do feel one or more of these are manifesting in you or your loved one, it is time to seek medication and treatment promptly. Let’s see what are these OSFED symptoms:
- Disgruntled cognitive processes like being unable to focus on a task at hand
- Obsession with food and being secretive around food
- Poor body image (body dysmorphia)
- Social withdrawal & avoidance behavior due to social anxiety
- Low self-esteem and shaken confidence
- Fatigue and extreme tiredness
- Intense feelings of shame, guilt, and anxiety
- Extreme self-consciousness and awareness
- Impulsivity and irritability
The Difference Between OSFED and EDNOS
When the OSFED symptoms do not fall anywhere near the likes of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, or Binge-eating disorder (BED), they essentially fall into the less commonly known category called Eating disorder not otherwise specified, which is largely different from other specified eating disorder or other specified feeding or eating disorder. EDNOS was initially used in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) classification system, which describes different types of eating disorders, from 1987 to 2013. In 2013, it was replaced with the OSFED eating disorder category. Many of those who were diagnosed with EDNOS might need a repeat diagnosis as they might or might not be diagnosed with something that is part of the Other specified feeding or eating disorder category.
Read More: Depression And Eating Disorders: Understanding The Link And Finding Help
OSFED Treatment
OSFED treatment is always based on the actual diagnosis and the subtype diagnosis(5). Moving onto treatment, these are the types of treatment that would be helpful in treating OSFED symptoms.
Early intervention is the best prevention method, which can be practiced by initiating certain measures like being watchful of warning signs and seeking support for them early on. If that doesn’t work then treatment is always available. For any eating disorder or OSFED, one can try the ones below, especially in combination with medication :
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E): Also described as the “enhanced” version of general CBT (which is a type of psychotherapy or “talk” therapy that helps affected individuals look inward objectively), it adds new techniques, strategies, and procedures into the mix. It focuses on a young person with an eating disorder to restore regular healthy eating, help them return to their weight (especially if underweight), and address any emotions and behaviors that are keeping the eating disorder symptoms in their system. It is specifically very suitable as a leading evidence-based treatment for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa as mentioned in a 2010 research(7).
Family-based Treatment: Family-based treatment, which is often referred to as the Maudsley Approach or Maudsley Family Treatment, has particularly been shown to be effective for underweight kids (with anorexia nervosa) and kids with binge eating and purging behavior (bulimia nervosa)(8). This one is based on providing treatment with the involvement of the family in the therapy, which focuses on the family feeding their child, using specific amounts of food items, and scheduling meals throughout the day to ensure that the affected one doesn’t treat food as a coping mechanism.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Guided Self Help (CBT-GSH): It is a worthwhile first-line treatment option for young people and older teenagers experiencing bulimia nervosa, BED, or disordered eating and even for any type of OSFED eating disorder(9). In this one, an affected individual with mild to moderate mental health difficulties can be guided by a health professional through self-help program materials. It is a highly structured, person-centered intervention that is based on the principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Read More: Eating Disorder Relapse: What Can You Do About It?
Wrapping Up!
We have laid down everything about OSFED symptoms, you also got to know about OSFED diagnostic criteria and even the OSFED treatment methods. If you are looking to get treatment and need it promptly then look no further than Inland Empire Behavioral Group. You can also rely on Inland for other conditions such as anxiety, OCD, addiction, bipolar disorder, and depression through treatment methods such as the ones mentioned above and alternative methods like psychiatric medication management and telehealth psychiatry.
