What are Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders?

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:

  • Anorexia nervosa type: all of the same characteristics as anorexia nervosa, with the exception of body weight below the minimum expected, considering the affected individual's age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health. .
  • Binge-eating disorder type: 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.
  • Bulimia nervosa type: 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.
  • 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.
  • Purging disorder: Persistent purging behaviours without the presence of binge-eating episodes.

If you have concerns about dysfunctional eating behaviours, this screening tool can help identify whether these behaviours indicate the possible presence of an eating disorder. Note: this is not a diagnostic tool and is not a substitute for a professional evaluation. 


Screen for Disordered Eating

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a mental illness characterised by behaviours that interfere with maintaining an adequate weight. 

Biological, social, genetic, and psychological factors play a role in increasing the risk of its onset.

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Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a mental illness characterised by periods of food restriction followed by binge eating, with recurrent compensating behaviours to “purge” the body of the food.

Biological, social, genetic, and psychological factors play a role in increasing the risk of its onset.

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Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) involves limitations in the amount and/or types of food consumed, but unlike anorexia, ARFID does not involve any distress about body shape or size, or fears of fatness. 

ARFID is a mental illness which can severely compromise growth, development, and health. 

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Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is a mental illness that can seriously affect psychological and physical health. It is characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food then experiencing shame, distress or guilt afterwards.

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Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder

Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders refers to atypical presentations of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, among other eating disorders. 

These eating disorders are equally serious and as potentially life-threatening as the more typical presentations. 

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Other Eating Disorders

Including pica, rumination disorder and unspecified feeding or eating disorder

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