What is Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)? An eating disorder not otherwised specified was created for symptoms that do readily fit into the standard category of anorexia or bulimia nervosa. The diagnosis of EDNOS indicates that the person may have some but not all of the characteristics of either anorexia or bulimia nervosa. There is a common misconception that a diagnosis of EDNOS indicates that the diagnosis is not as serious as either bulimia or anorexia. However, someone diagnosed with EDNOS may be just as sick medically and physically as someone with another eating disorder diagnosis.
Examples include:
* Having all the criteria for anorexia except that a female continues menses or is within normal weight range.
* Experiences periods of chewing and spitting out food
* Criteria for bulimia nervosa is present, except for the duration of the illness and the frequency of the symptoms.
* Having an obsession with eating only organic, natural or raw food (orthorexia.)
* Skipping social encounters for fear of being around food, if your weight is normal.
* Having all the symptoms of anorexia and experiencing weight loss, yet weight is still in the normal range.
* Believing that everybody is as obsessed as weight as the individual is.
