What is
EDNOS?
Constance Rhodes
According to the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders), there is a classification of disordered eating referred to as
"EDNOS", or "Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified."
These are also sometimes referred to as 'sub-clinical' or 'sub-threshold'
disorders. Persons fitting the EDNOS category may meet some, but not all,
criteria for anorexia and bulimia. While their eating issues may not be as
extreme, however, they still have a significant need to be understood, and to
find proper treatment for their struggles with eating and weight control.
(Note: Technically, Binge Eating Disorder (BED) currently falls into this
category as well, although there is significant movement underway for BED to
receive it's own distinct classification in the DSM,
which is why we've featured it separately on this site.)
- You're always on a diet,
always coming off a diet, or always getting ready to go on one again
(chronic dieting).
- You categorize foods as
'safe' and 'off limits', but weigh within normal ranges and are not
participating in bulimia.
- You eliminate entire food
groups from your diet (yes, that includes carbs!).
- You are obsessed with
exercising but eat fairly regularly.
- You binge and/or purge
occasionally, but not more than a few times a month.
- You substitute supplements
and fad diets for real food, but weigh within normal ranges.
- You skip social occasions
because you feel fat, or because you are afraid of what's being served,
yet your weight is normal.
- You are obsessed with eating
only organic, natural or raw foods (orthorexia).
- You believe that everyone is
as focused on your weight as you are.
- You refuse to eat regular
meals, choosing instead to 'nibble' throughout the day on small portions
of food (which usually leads to bingeing).
A Common Struggle
As you can see, there are a lot of different aspects to non-extreme eating
disorders. If you think about it, many of the people you know actually fall
into this category, as we know that for every (1) healthy eater, there are at
least (2) people who fall into the EDNOS category. Consider this picture,
which shows eating as on a continuum:
Schematic 1.0 "The Eating Continuum" as featured in Life
Inside the Thin Cage, by Constance Rhodes. Published by Shaw Books. Page
19. Used by permission of the author.
Note from the picture above that there is a small
proportion of those on the left who struggle with clinical eating disorders.
And there is an equally small portion on the right who are healthy eaters. In
the middle are those struggling with EDNOS. If you find
yourself in this category, it's important to know you're not alone.
For more info see www.findingbalance.com, or contact Remuda Ranch for more help at 1-800-445-1900