CONTACT@BAMBOONUTRITIONRD.COM | (573) 343-4017
Columbia, MO | Rochester, MN
Other Specified Feeding & Eating Disorders (OSFED)
And Lesser Known Eating Disorders
Nutrition & Therapy
Most people are familiar with the terms “Anorexia” or “Bulimia,” but struggles with food can be far more complex than just two or three categories. This page will discuss lesser-known diagnostic categories that impact real people. Know that if you find yourself in these descriptions, you are not alone, and healing is possible.
what is osfed?
“Other-Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder” is something of a catch-all category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for symptoms that don’t exactly match other diagnostic categories.
This may include…
Anorexia without extremely low body weight
Bulimia with low frequency of compensatory behaviors
Binge-eating disorder with low-frequency of binge episodes.
Obsessively clean eating, commonly known as “Orthorexia”. Though not motivated by a desire to lose weight, obsessively “clean” eating can contribute to low body weight, nutritional deficiencies, and can significantly impact mental health.
Diabulimia, or the under-dosing of insulin in people with diabetes for the purpose of weight loss. Learn more about the overlap between diabetes and eating disorders here.
A diagnosis of OSFED is no less serious than any other diagnosis. These eating disorders are equally valid and deserving of treatment.
At Bamboo, we know that real struggles rarely fit into neat diagnostic categories. We will take the time to know you as a unique individual, hear your personal strengths and struggles, and work together to make a recovery plan unique to you.
lesser known eating disorders
pica
Pica is a condition in which a person consistently eats non-food items, such as chalk, ice, clay or hair. The condition can be concerning and difficult to understand, but often stems from a combination of factors including nutritional deficiencies, sensory needs, or stress.
Your team at Bamboo can support you by helping you gain clarity on what’s behind these behaviors, and creating an individualized plan to help you overcome these patterns.
Rumination Disorder
Rumination disorder is the repeated, sometimes sub-conscious, pattern of regurgitating and re-swallowing food. This behavior might be experienced as a compulsion, or provide a calming effect when the person is under high stress. Stigma may cause people to attempt to hide their rumination behaviors, but untreated rumination can lead to dental concerns or issues in the upper digestive tract. Rumination disorder can occur in the context of other eating disorders. Treatment involves learning and practicing stress management techniques as well as addressing any underlying mental health concerns.
What to expect during the intake?
The initial session involves a meeting with one of our providers where you simply get to tell your story–as much or as little as you feel comfortable. We may ask you about your symptoms or relationship with food, but we will also ask about other things in life: your hopes, passions, goals, other mental health concerns, and relationships. You are also welcome to ask us anything you need during this time to feel confident in our partnership together.
Eating disorders, due to their complexity of mental, emotional, and physical health risks, require a specialized multi-disciplinary team. This team includes a therapist, a registered dietitian, a primary care doctor, family members or loved ones, and may also include a psychiatrist and other specialists or community members (coaches, teachers, etc).
If you don’t yet have an established care team, we will assist in setting you up with specialized providers to help ensure medical stability while we work together.
How long does treatment take, and what can I expect from therapy?
Everyone walks their own individual journey, and everyone’s recovery story is uniquely their own. While some are looking to find a therapist who can be a life-long support, others may wish to utilize support for a brief, focused season. While the average time spent working with an outpatient therapist is a few years, we encourage clients to consider committing to the process for just a few months. By the end of two or three months, you should be noticing changes, or start to feel that something is working.
Nutrition support is necessary
Working with both a therapist and a registered dietitian who specialize in eating disorder treatment offers the most effective path to healing. Therapy addresses the emotional and behavioral aspects of the disorder, while nutrition care supports your physical health and recovery. A registered dietitian helps restore nourishment, monitors medical risks, and collaborates with your physician to reduce the risk of long-term complications.
While everyone’s journey is unique, there are some basic building blocks of recovery that are common regardless of what brings you here. You can expect treatment to help you…
Set personalized goals based on your values
Establish regular, adequate, flexible patterns of eating
Learn the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Notice your thoughts, feel your feelings
Identify unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with more effective beliefs
Challenge patterns of avoidance through intentional, planned, supportive exposures
Develop coping skills for challenging moments, and…
Graduate when you are ready.