Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder
307.59 (F50.8)
This category applies to presentations in wh ich symptoms characteristic of a feeding and
eating disorder that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupation-
al, or other important areas of functioning predominate but do not meet the full criteria for
any of the disorders in the feeding and eating disorders diagnostic class. The other spec-
ified feeding or eating disorder category is used in situations in which the clinician chooses
to communicate the specific reason that the presentation does not meet the criteria for any
specific feeding and eating disorder. This is done by recording “other specified feeding or
eating disorder” followed by the specific reason (e.g., “bulimia nervosa of low frequency”).
Examples of presentations that can be specified using the “other specified” designation
include the following:
1.Atypical anorexia nervosa: All of the criteria for anorexia nervosa are met, except
that despite significant weight loss, the indi vidual’s weight is within or above the normal
range.
2.Bulimia nervosa (of low freque ncy and/or limited duration):  All of the criteria for
bulimia nervosa are met, except that the binge eating and inappropriate compensatory
behaviors occur, on average, less than once a week and/or for less than 3 months.
3.Binge-eating disorder (of low frequency and/ or limited duration):  All of the criteria
for binge-eating disorder are met, except that the binge eating occurs, on average, less
than once a week and/or for less than 3 months.
4.Purging disorder:  Recurrent purging behavior to influence weight or shape (e.g., self-
induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diur etics, or other medications) in the absence