Understanding OSFED (Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder)

OSFED stands for Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder. It includes eating disorder behaviors that cause significant distress but don’t fit neatly into another diagnosis. OSFED is just as serious as other eating disorders and deserves the same level of care and attention.

Common Signs and Symptoms

OSFED can include a wide range of experiences, such as:

• Restrictive eating without meeting criteria for anorexia

• Binge eating or purging behaviors that occur less frequently

• Ongoing preoccupation with food, weight, or body image

• Feelings of guilt or anxiety around eating

• Physical symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, or digestive issues

• Obsession with “clean eating” (informally known as Orthorexia)

Examples of Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders

• Atypical Anorexia: Shares many characteristics of Anorexia Nervosa, but not medically underweight

• Purging Disorder: Use of purging (i.e. self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics) after a normal sized meal

• Night Eating Syndrome: Recurrent eating episodes in the middle of the night that leads to distress

• Orthorexia: Not formally recognized in the DSM-V, but a very real concern. Orthorexia is characterized by an obsession with “clean eating” 

Health Risks to Be Aware Of

OSFED can lead to:

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Heart and digestive problems

• Hormonal imbalances

• Increased anxiety, depression, or emotional distress

You’re Not Alone

OSFED is a valid diagnosis, and help is available. Cielomar Recovery understands that eating disorders don’t always fit a single label. Their compassionate approach focuses on the whole person, offering support, understanding, and a path toward recovery.