EDNOS?

This is a good one. I wish you would stick to yes or no questions. I dislike being a hog (that I am) especially in relations to space. (no pun) Why diet "now" for me, each day I diet adds another day to my life expectancy. Anyway, with the years gone by, it "now" becomes important to have a quality of health and limited pain with my ailments. Here's to good health to all.

I suffer from this eating disorder and I don't feel that you gave a very good explanation of it.
ED-NOS is not a subclinical disorder. It is the name that is used to describe eating disordered behavior that does not fit into the DSM (Psychology Bible) Criteria for Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, or BED/COE.
For instance, if a patient fits all of the clinical criteria for anorexia except for the loss of menses, she would be diagnosed as ED-NOS. My ED is classified as ED-NOS because I engage in both anorexic and bulimic behaviors.
ED-NOS can be just as dangerous and damaging as any other clinically recognized eating disorder, and I don't feel that this was adequately communicated in your post.
I also encourage everyone to look at the Something Fishy information:
http://www.something-fishy.org/whatarethey/ednos.php

I'm not intending to provide clinical diagnoses on eating disorders - but to provoke reflection and discussion on where obsessive dieting may lead you.

It's all well and good to be "classified" with something, but many people who may not fit any rigid classification in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) still experience considerable issues in their everyday life.

Diet-Blog in no way is intended to be a counselling or diagnosis tool for any medical issues (this is made clear in the disclaimer). Diet-Blog is all about news, commentary, and discussion-starters.

FYI: Here is the technical criteria:
DSM-IV Technical Criteria for EDNOS
1. All of the criteria for Anorexia Nervosa are met except the individual has regular menses.

2. All of the criteria for Anorexia Nervosa are met except that, despite substantial weight loss, the individual's current weight is in the normal range.

3. All of the criteria for Bulimia Nervosa are met except binges occur at a frequency of less than twice a week or for a duration of less than 3 months.

4. An individual of normal body weight who regularly engages in inappropriate compensatory behavior after eating small amounts of food (eg, self-induced vomiting after the consumption of two cookies).

5. An individual who repeatedly chews and spits out, but does not swallow, large amounts of food.

6. Binge eating disorder; recurrent episodes of binge eating in the absence of the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors characteristic of bulimia nervosa.

I didn't mean to sound harsh in that, sorry if I did!
I think I misunderstood where you were going with the entry, and now I get more what you were trying to say.
I do think, though, that ED-NOS is not recognized enough. Many people seem to think that it is simply a subclinical eating disorder, but it is a true ED that takes over just as many lives as the widely recognized ones (AN, BN, and COE/BED)
Again, I apologize if I offended you!

Interesting point of view. I do understand the whole EDNOS diagnostic criteria, as I was at one time in treatment for depression and what my parents figured was anorexia. Clinically, I never got to the cutoff 20% below normal weight but I did stop menstruating for a while. I was training very hard for running and since I was depressed, it seemed I couldn't focus on anything BUT running. My eating patterns were fairly normal except that I wasn't taking in enough nutrients to keep my body fat up. I got to a very low body fat % and did indeed stop menstruating and I lost some hair. Although I wasn't skeletally thin I was quite underweight and I looked very strange...like a gawky boy. The sad thing is, most doctors do NOT take EDs seriously unless you are either a walking skeleton or your esophagus has rotted away from purging so much. They completely ignore those who have EDNOS, those that are compulsive overeaters, the people who have exercise/eating disorders, etc. My doctor said that "according to BMI, you are normal-weight" but I got a second opinion and was weighed underwater at a second doctor who said I was at least 4% underfat and who finally took me seriously. The thing is...many EDs start out in people that are a little overweight. Dieting to lose weight can quickly spiral out of control and turn into full fledged disordered eating.

Maru - it's okay! Your response highlights your POV - that's the whole idea. The more people get to talk about these things - the more it is brought out in the open.

It's a good opportunity for me to point to the disclaimer too. What troubles me always - is that this blog is often deluged with (typically) young girls who have some serious issues going on. It is always so very hard to try and present an informative and helpful (and, yes, even light-hearted!) look at diet and weight loss - and at the same time - not encourage people to be obsessive.

As Spectra says - dieting can be the harbinger of disordered eating. Whether a doctor, health professional, or medical manual recognizes it or not - you are STILL suffering, and are in an unpleasant place. If this blog can help a few people to think twice before jumping on the extreme dieting bandwagon - then hopefully thats a good thing :)

i was diagnosed as EDNOS, because i get my period regularly, and 50% of the time i am exactly 1 kilo over the weight criteria for anorexia, the other 50% i am about two kilos under. i have occasional problems with compulsive overeating, but i've never purged. The label depresses me, really. It seems a bit insulting, that i'm not technically considered "anorexic" and EDNOS is veiwed as somehow "less serious" by most people....The doctor who diagnosed me gave me this lecture about how if i "wasnt careful" my ED might "become worse" (as in Anorexia or Bulimia)....by this point, i'd already had an ED for 7 years. The only reason i'm not technically "anorexic" is because once or twice a week or so i'd have a massive 4,000-7,000 calorie binge, which would often make me feel nearly suicidal afterwards. Yet somehow, to the doctor whom i'd just explained all this to, EDNOS isnt as BAD as a "REAL ED" like anorexia or bulimia. Its just infuriating. i'm underweight, but not thin enough to look like people expect an anorexic to, i guess.

i suppose the tricky part for many people would be deciding when dieting becomes EDNOS...Hard to know what "normal" is anymore...because i didnt make myself vomit or use laxatives, i didnt even realise i had an eating disorder for years. i thought it was just "dieting" but the obsession grew and grew. i suppose thats the key, the level of obsession.

OK, so I have a question. It said in the article and a constant focus on weight...that's part of ENDOS. I focus on my weight a lot, and I feel 'fat' a lot of the time, but I'm not (5'5", 105 lbs). I don't do anything like not eat or throw up, but would that still be considered ENDOS? Email me with some insight if you would, I won't be checking back here: Strummer.girl@gmail.com
-Nicole

Ok, i was not diagnosed with a ED, but i've been eating under 200 cals a day or just vomiting for a while. my psychologist says im anorexic, my doctor says im bulimic.. i dont think im either.. I'M SUPPOSED TO BE THIN AND IM NOT!! ( i'm 5'5 and 120) would that be considered EDNOS?

That's exactly right, Maru--EDNOS is a clinical eating disorder, every bit as serious as the ones we more commonly here about.

Thanks, Jim, for highlighting a serious disorder that sometimes gets brushed away as "dieting" or "healthy eating."

I'm confused about the anorexic/bulimic/ednos diagnostic criteria. I've been telling myself I don't have an ED bc I'm not thin enough to be anorexic. I'm right at the underweight borderline BMI. I eat 100-300 cals a day though, and I'm obsessed with food/thinness/losing weight. I just can't seem to lose anymore. My sister keeps telling me I'm anorexic, but I don't think I am bc I'm definitely nowhere near 85% of the normal body weight. I haven't had my period for about 5 months though. Is this considered ED-NOS?

This is directed to the last fewe people who posted on here-Nicole, Sam, and P. Although this actually was a while ago. I don't think he wrote this article to diagnose you with an eating disorder. But, yes I believe each of you do inded suffer from EDNOS. What people need to remember is that it is infact just as serious as the more commonly known disorders. Just because you don't directly fit into a category doesn't mean you don't have a problem. Obviously it is your choice as to wether you get help. But it is dangerous. I believe i suffer from EDNOS. I would also like to say that it can be both a serious eating disorder and a "grey area" betweeen healthy eating and anorexia. The thing is noone should be soo obsessed with food and weight. And it is just as emotionally detrimental wether your bmi is 17 or 30. I do think the somethng fishy website gives a very accurate description of it and offers help. Good Luck everybody~
Stay HEALTHY

This was positivily the worst thing i've read. I have EDNOS..and its nothing like u explained...read up on it...better yet, LIVE IT! Its not some GRAY area....dang...some people are ignorant..thats the politically correct way to say it.But whoever wrote this was just plain stupid

EDNOS is NOT in the grey area of healthy eating and disordered eating. EDNOS is just as serious as bulimia or anorexia, and patients are diagnosed with EDNOS when they don't fit ALL criteria of EDNOS. It can, in some cases, be more serious than full blown anorexia or bulimia because patients can be eating very little and throwing up the little they eat...or not eating a thing and being grossly underweight but not 'technically' anorexic because they still have their period...or any number of things. It is not a DIET, it is not 'occasional bingeing'...get your facts straight before posting an explanation of something you know nothing about!

I'm concerned that my boyfriend might have EDNOS. Is that common in men? He's 25 and we've only been dating for about a month and a half but as we grow closer I've noticed that he has strange eating habits. For example, he will only have coffee in the morning, unless I say I'm hungry but I never do until the weekends b/c we're usually both in a hurry. Then he packs a sandwich for lunch, usually pb&j. Once I met him for lunch at this great little italian place where he ate like half of a salad and I had like a whole plate of pasta. He said that when he goes there for lunch with his colleagues he only ever orders this same salad and eats about half. When I asked why he just brushed it off saying that he had just had a cig break a few minutes before I arrived and wasnt that hungry or that he just isnt really hungry at lunch time. Then when we have dinners together we like to cook and have wine. He eats a lot at dinner, all of his and usually the rest of mine. Its like he's been starving all day and is trying to keep eating as little as possible but just cant stand it anymore because he's soooo hungry. I do know that when he was younger, actually all the way until like a month before we met, he was big. I guess he got made fun of and it really bothered him but he wont talk much about it. He just laughs and says "I was so fat." Now he works out 5 to 6 times a week for at least an hour until he's about to pass out or throw up. It really bothers me. I mean this could all be just him wanting to get in shape, which he has done a great job doing, but once I confronted him about how strange it was for him to eat like this he said that he'd probably always eat like this b/c he knows how his body reacts to it. That means no baking for me! Ever! Help me! What do I do and does he have EDNOS?

concerned in carolina

Eating disorders are less common in men than in women, but they show up in both genders. I am recovering from an eating disorder myself, but I'm not a professional so I can't tell you if your boyfriend does or doesn't have EDNOS. Would he be open to talking to a therapist or a nutritionist about his eating and exercise habits?

ALM said:
I'm concerned that my boyfriend might have EDNOS. Is that common in men? He's 25 and we've only been dating for about a month and a half but as we grow closer I've noticed that he has strange eating habits. For example, he will only have coffee in the morning, unless I say I'm hungry but I never do until the weekends b/c we're usually both in a hur[...]

ALM!
He may be on the edge. If he can stay on the sane side it may be OK. Read about the Warrior Diet which sounds somewhat like what he does. I'd be more worried about him smoking, if that was what you said. It's the number 1 cause of disease and death that can be prevented.

hi, um i just turned 14 2 days ago ive been diganosed with an ednos ive been getting help for 8 months and my diation says im more in the aneroxia section in there i really hate it cause i dont believe it, i exercise like 2-3 hours and nearly clapz, i only manily have dinner sometimes a snack b4 but yer ive lost some weight now like 3 kilos but i fell i need to loes way more i also have voices in my head. but the thing is people would say i have a problem but i dont see it as a problem i just see it as the way i live shur im different to people n i do different things but isant everyone different!!!! i feel soo crazyy! im soo confuses about thiss all!
takecare bii xO

sam said:
Ok, i was not diagnosed with a ED, but i've been eating under 200 cals a day or just vomiting for a while. my psychologist says im anorexic, my doctor says im bulimic.. i dont think im either.. I'M SUPPOSED TO BE THIN AND IM NOT!! ( i'm 5'5 and 120) would that be considered EDNOS?[...]

Yess That would hun x

sammy said:
hi, um i just turned 14 2 days ago ive been diganosed with an ednos ive been getting help for 8 months and my diation says im more in the aneroxia section in there i really hate it cause i dont believe it, i exercise like 2-3 hours and nearly clapz, i only manily have dinner sometimes a snack b4 but yer ive lost some weight now like 3 kilos but i f[...]

Heyy.. Im 14 aswell.. and im in the same situation as youu.. although im not on the anorexic side..im more on the ednos side. i here voices too. But u just keep strong hun. Live life the way u want too live it. Try and keep that smile on ur face. Think THINSPO (:

x

heyy guys, im 15 years old, and im not sure if im ednos or not. could you guys tell me what i am please?

i starve myself, im obsessed with healthy eating, i spit out food, but i dont purge, and i go through normal menses, but im underwieght.

what am i???
thanks:]

hey im 13,5"7" tall n i weigh 55 kgs......i obsess over food n usually miss my lunch...ive been doing this for a year...sometimes i binge nd i do get my periods nd ofcorse im fat although ive lost only 2 kg...do i have EDNOS?i really wanna know if i have an eating disorder

Hi guys I am 40 yrs old and have been struggling with disordered eating since I was 14 yrs old.I have always obsessed about my weight .Skipping meals ..exercising as much as I could.Throughout my life.Two years ago I went back to work after having 2 kids(hated being pregnant)felt soo fat...love my kids though.When I went back to work I have always skipped meals but working made it easier So I was living on 300 less cals a day.working and exercising.i dropped 10 lbs in a short period of time.That put me at 99lbs at 5Ft tall.I still wanted to lose more.I weigh myself every morning and I always know when I gain a pound(when I do I freak out).I started using laxatives ..not realising the damage it can cause now Im dealing with fluid retention which makes me feel fatter.I have a new DR told him because I want to get rid of the fluid.He didn't seem to be too concerned with me so I didn't share any more than I had too.He didn't tell me how to get rid of the fluid ask what I eat or how often I exercise.I think I have ED-NOS!I still restrict my food and weigh myself everyday..I also chew and spit my food if I feel Ive eaten too much.I just want someone to tell me that they agree I have ED-NOS!