OSFED
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder
Break Free from OSFED
You deserve a joyful and nourishing bond with food and your body. It’s about fostering compassion and liberation, where food choices are made with ease, free from guilt, shame, or stress. At Nutrition Braved, we’re dedicated to supporting you in embracing food freedom, body positivity, and overcoming disordered eating patterns.
Understanding OSFED:
OSFED stands for Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder. A person diagnosed with OSFED doesn’t neatly fit into the criteria for any specific eating disorder but exhibits symptoms common in various eating disorders. Despite not fitting into traditional diagnostic categories like anorexia or bulimia nervosa, OSFED is equally serious and complex. It’s important to acknowledge that the struggles faced by individuals with OSFED are valid and deserving of understanding, attention, and support, just like any other eating disorder.
The exact cause of OSFED isn’t clear, but various factors can contribute to its development. These may include genetics, family history of eating disorders, low self-esteem, societal influences promoting diet culture, among others.
Recognizing eating disorders isn’t always straightforward as they are mental health conditions. Look for behaviors like:
- Obsessive or secretive food habits
- Preoccupation with body size or body changes
- Restriction
- Discomfort eating in social settings
- Binge eating
- Negative body image
- Avoidance of social situations
- Feelings of shame, guilt, or anxiety
Just like any eating disorder, OSFED can be lethal if left untreated. It can lead to:
- Muscle loss and weakness
- Osteoporosis
- Gastrointestinal disturbances such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhea
- Heart disease
- Type II diabetes
As OSFED covers a wide range of conditions, individuals diagnosed with it may have varying symptoms. Specific examples of OSFED include:
- Atypical anorexia nervosa: The person displays all the symptoms of anorexia nervosa, except their weight does not fall within what is diagnosed as anorexia by others. Despite this, they still experience all the physiological complications associated with the condition.
- Bulimia nervosa of low frequency and/or limited duration: this occurs when a person exhibits all the characteristics of bulimia nervosa, yet binge episodes occur less frequently, happening less than once a week and/or lasting for less than three months.
- Binge eating disorder of low frequency and/or limited duration: All criteria for binge eating disorder are met, except that binge episodes happen less frequently, occurring fewer than once a week and/or lasting less than three months.
- Purging disorder: This happens when a person purges by inducing vomiting, misusing laxatives or diuretics, or using other methods to alter body shape or weight, without engaging in binge eating.
- Night eating syndrome: is seen when someone regularly eats during the nighttime hours. This can happen either after waking up from sleep or by having a substantial meal later in the evening.
Take Control and Rediscovering Joy in Eating
You deserve to have a wonderful relationship with food and your body, no matter what symptoms you may experience. Finding joy in eating and exploring different foods is key. At Nutrition Braved, we understand that each eating disorder is unique, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. We encourage embracing the idea that all foods have their own special place and aim to remove any negative judgments about food, welcoming a colorful array of foods into your life. Our goal is to help you recover in a healthy and happy way, fostering a positive connection with food.
For more information about our services for overcoming this OSFED and to schedule a consultation, contact us today.
What Dietitians Offer
- Promote Mindfulness
- Rejecting Harmful Diet Culture
- Shifting Focus from Weight to Health
- Create a Supportive Environment
- Fostering Body Acceptance
- Personalized Support & Guidance
- Strategies for Navigating Social & Emotional Aspects of Eating
Free 15 Minute Consultation
Give us a call to determine if we are a good fit for you. We can discuss services and answer any questions you may have. You can call at 630-474-5321 or submit your information and we’ll reach out to you shortly.
