Lesser known types of eating disorders.
Conditions such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating are generally widely known but there are many types of eating disorders/disordered eating that don’t fit into those categories. If you feel that you struggle with your relationship with food, eating, or your body but none of the above apply to you, you’re not alone and still deserve support. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is used by mental health providers to diagnose and treat mental health issues and includes Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED) and Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorders. Though unspecified disorders don’t meet full criteria, they still encompass disordered eating behaviors and patterns that can not only be emotionally distressing, but potentially as dangerous.
OSFED:
Atypical anorexia: An individual meets all criteria of anorexia with the exception of the individual’s weight being considered “normal.” I find that this can be incredibly damaging for someone struggling with anorexia because it sends them and their medical professionals the idea that they are healthy. Health goes way beyond a number on the scale, and anyone at any size can struggle with malnourishment.
Bulimia nervosa (low frequency/limited duration): Meets all criteria for bulimia but engages in behaviors on a less frequent basis (less than once per week or for less than 3 months).
Binge eating (low frequency/limited duration): Meets all criteria for binge eating but engages in behaviors on a less frequent basis (less than once per week or for less than 3 months).
Purging disorder: Engaging in recurrent purging behaviors, such as laxatives or vomiting, without also engaging in binge eating.
Night eating syndrome: Recurrent episodes of waking up during the night to eat or excessive food intake after eating dinner. There is an awareness and memory of eating.
Unspecified: Note that these are conditions that are not specifically listed in the DSM, but again because of the emotional and physical implications still deserve to be recognized and addressed.
Orthorexia: An obsession with eating “clean” or “pure” foods. While this can seemingly start off healthy, the longer this persists the more an individual may cut out certain food or food groups altogether, therefor missing out on key nutrients.
Drunkorexia: Skipping meals to “save calories” for alcohol that will be consumed later. This tends to be seen most often in college students, but this can affect anyone at any age. Your body needs nutrients to metabolize alcohol, and by having little to no food in your stomach, your body will struggle to process alcohol.
Diabulima: This involves an individual with diabetes skipping their dosage of insulin as a way to control their weight. The term can feel misleading, as not everyone with diabulimia engages in binge eating, which is a key criteria in bulimia.
This list is not exhaustive, and there are other patterns and behaviors that encompass disordered eating that may not have a name for it yet. If none of the above apply to you, but you’re still struggling and want support on building a healthier relationship with food and yourself, reach out to see how Sage Mind Counseling and Wellness can support your healing journey.
