Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified  The Forgotten Eating Disorder

By Leslie Davis

When people think about eating disorders, they most commonly think of anorexia and bulimia. These eating disorders are defined by a set list of criteria that makes them easy to diagnose.

Eating disorders that are not as easy to diagnose -- but that are far more common -- are Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS). These disorders can be characterized by many unhealthy behaviors people exhibit with food, such as skipping meals in order to lose weight or only allowing yourself to eat a slice of pizza if you have run five miles that day in order to not gain weight.

What makes EDNOS so difficult to diagnose is that there are no defined criteria as there are with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. In fact, the best way to diagnose somebody with EDNOS is to rule out criteria for a more specific eating disorder.

Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified can include the following:

• All of the criteria for anorexia are met except the person does not skip periods.
• All of the criteria for anorexia are met except that, despite substantial weight loss, the individual's current weight is in the normal range.
• All of the criteria for bulimia are met except binges occur at a frequency of less than twice a week or for a duration of less than three months.
• An individual of normal body weight who regularly engages in inappropriate compensatory behavior after eating small amounts of food (e.g., self-induced vomiting after the consumption of two cookies).
• An individual who repeatedly chews and spits out, but does not swallow, large amounts of food.
• Binge eating disorder -- recurrent episodes of binge eating in the absence of the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors characteristic of bulimia nervosa.

A Risky Behavior

It may be easy for people to dismiss their behaviors as what they need to do to stay in shape or fit into their favorite jeans. But people who have EDNOS are experiencing an eating disorder just as serious as anorexia or bulimia – with risks just as great.

People who suffer from an eating disorder may experience any of the following:

• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• Impaired neuromuscular function
• Paralysis
• Tearing of esophagus (from vomiting)
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Anemia
• Kidney failure

These are just a few of the many side effects of an eating disorder. While it may be easy to tell yourself that you don't have one, and that you're definitely not an anorexic or bulimic, eating disorders aren't always characterized by their physical symptoms alone.

Eating disorders also fall under the category of psychological disorders, meaning there is an underlying issue that is causing your disordered eating behavior. That issue could be low self-esteem, a history of physical or sexual abuse or trauma, anger issues, a way to feel in control or a way to cope with life's problems.

Treating Your Eating Disorder

Treating your eating disorder requires you to tackle both your disordered eating and the underlying emotional and psychological issues. One of the most effective ways to do this is at a residential treatment center for eating disorders.

Residential treatment centers such as Sierra Tucson in Arizona and the Life Healing Center in New Mexico provide individualized treatment programs for women and men who are struggling with an eating disorder. Through individual and group therapy, you will learn to understand your disordered eating behaviors and find more productive coping mechanisms. Process groups and experiential therapies allow you to work through any co-occurring issues and learn to have a more healthy relationship with food.

For women who prefer an all-female environment where they can get the support of other females working through their eating disorders, there are residential treatment centers that cater to women. The Victorian and Montecatini in California, Carolina House in North Carolina, and Center for Hope of the Sierras in Nevada provide a nurturing environment for women to recover from their eating disorders.

Adults are not the only ones who suffer from eating disorders. Peak onset of eating disorders is now among girls ages 11 to 13. If an adolescent is suffering from any type of eating disorder, it's important to address the problem before it becomes a life-long struggle. Both Montecatini and Center for Hope of the Sierras are experienced in treating adolescent girls with eating disorders and co-occurring disorders, helping them to create a successful future that does not involve disordered eating.