Acronym for "Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified." The DSM-IV categorizes any eating disorder without a name as "not otherwise specified." Often, people categorized as having ED-NOS basically have anorexia or bulimia but cannot be classified as such because of a technicality.
Some examples of people who are ED-NOS:
-A person who severely restricts food intake but is not yet underweight by DSM-IV standards
-A female who meets all other criteria for anorexia but continues to have regular menstrual periods.
-A person who regularly binges WITHOUT engaging in inappropriate compensatory behaviors such as purging (also known as binge eating disorder).
-Someone who binges and purges but does not meet the frequency or duration requirements for a diagnosis of bulimia
-Someone who regularly purges after eating regular amounts of food, but is not yet "clinically underweight."
-Someone who regularly chews food and spits it out without swallowing, but does not meet the criteria for either bulimia or anorexia.
-Any individual who is recovering from or just about to enter one of the "specified" eating disorders.
-A person who severely restricts food intake but is not yet underweight by DSM-IV standards
-A female who meets all other criteria for anorexia but continues to have regular menstrual periods.
-A person who regularly binges WITHOUT engaging in inappropriate compensatory behaviors such as purging (also known as binge eating disorder).
-Someone who binges and purges but does not meet the frequency or duration requirements for a diagnosis of bulimia
-Someone who regularly purges after eating regular amounts of food, but is not yet "clinically underweight."
-Someone who regularly chews food and spits it out without swallowing, but does not meet the criteria for either bulimia or anorexia.
-Any individual who is recovering from or just about to enter one of the "specified" eating disorders.
by Juliet January 25, 2005