As mentioned earlier, a number of different cases can be categorized as EDNOS. We will discuss a few such instances here. Many times, a person may be what you would call anorexic, but only in terms of imposing rigorous restrictions on their eating habits. What this means is that though the person restricts her eating habits almost like an anorexic, it does not show on her body weight. Unlike an anorexic, such a person continues to look like any other normal healthy individual. Such a person can be said to have EDNOS.

Another instance is if a woman is anorexic, but this does not result in a disruption or stoppage of her menstrual cycle. The woman will be labeled as suffering from EDNOS.

There are some women, and sometimes men, who display the same symptoms as all bulimics, but in whose case the purging of food is not as regular as it is with all bulimics. Such patients are also labeled as having EDNOS. A variation could be an instance where a woman purges food regularly, just like all other bulimics, but is still not underweight.

Basically, as it has turned out, what makes people EDNOS patients and not anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder patients is usually a technicality.

For example, a person might miss being labeled as a bulimic or an anorexic because her weight or any of the symptoms she displays falls just outside what is prescribed by the guidelines. Such a person is labeled usually as suffering from EDNOS. However, it is always possible for such a person to finally end up with anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder in the long run.

EDNOS is Bad News

Like any of the other eating disorders, EDNOS poses serious health concerns to patients suffering from it. However, besides the problems that come with the other eating disorders, EDNOS brings with it another side to the story. Since a person with EDNOS will not be labeled as suffering from any of the other commonly known eating disorders, she may become confused as to what was actually happening to her.

A case in point is an instance, where a girl lost about sixty pounds very rapidly, but still didn’t seem underweight. She would be wondering what was going on. Add to that the fact that her family would probably appreciate the fact that she managed to lose such a lot of flab and yet remain healthy and fit, and you can understand how tihs sutuation coiuld be confusing.

Medical insurance difficulties

The bad news is not just with the identification of the disorder. From a financial perspective it can pose difficulties, because there is a possibility that a person with EDNOS may not receive medical insurance coverage.

The reason for this is again equally flimsy – EDNOS does not follow or fit into any of the guidelines laid down for eating disorders.

On a medical level, the risks for EDNOS patients are the same as those for anorexics, bulimics, and patients suffering from binge eating disorder. These include kidney malfunction, osteoporosis, stunted growth, and cardiac problems. In severe cases, EDNOS can be fatal.

Types of EDNOS >>