What is OSFED?
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) is a category of eating disorders that includes behaviors and symptoms that do not fit the exact criteria of more well-known disorders like anorexia or bulimia. Individuals with OSFED may exhibit a wide range of disordered eating patterns, such as restrictive eating, purging without binging, or episodes of binge eating without the frequency required for a bulimia diagnosis. Despite not fitting into traditional categories, OSFED is just as serious and can have significant physical and emotional consequences.
OSFED often presents with physical health risks such as malnutrition, heart complications, and digestive issues, while emotionally, individuals may experience low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. It’s important to understand that even though OSFED might not meet the exact criteria of other eating disorders, it still requires professional treatment to address the root causes and help individuals build healthier relationships with food and themselves.