Closer Look: Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)

EDNOS is having a combination of signs and symptoms of both Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Thus, like each disorder, EDNOS can lead to death.

Since EDNOS is not one specific disorder, but a combination of two defined disorders, the signs and symptoms are the same as those of each disorder. You can show signs from both disorders.

However, there are some discrepancies with EDNOS. Some examples include:

• in females, menstruation still occurs although person still exhibits anorexic behavior
• all symptoms classify person as anorexic, but person exhibits normal range of weight (bulimia sign)
• compensatory behavior occurs less frequently than the criteria for Bulimia Nervosa 
• purging without binge behavior (can be referred to as purging disorder)

The commonality of all eating disorders is the emotional and physiological suffering you may be going through.