Anorexia is a serious mental health condition characterised by low weight and the fear of gaining weight. Someone with anorexia will severely restrict the amount of food they eat, make themselves vomit or exercise excessively.  Many people with anorexia have a distorted image of themselves, thinking they’re overweight when they are underweight.

Criteria for our service includes a BMI of 17 or above (for adults)

Bulimia is an eating disorder and mental health condition. People who have bulimia try to control their weight by restricting the amount of food they eat, then binge eating and purging by making themselves vomit or using laxatives. Most people with bulimia are at a normal weight.

Criteria for our service includes purging less than twice a week

Binge Eating Disorder is characterised by frequent and recurrent binge eating episodes. A binge is an episode of excessive eating or drinking. People who binge eat very large quantities of food over a short period of time even when they’re not hungry but do not purge the food from their body. Binge eating is one of the most prevalent eating disorders among adults.

Criteria for our service includes binge eating no more than twice a week

A person with OSFED may present with many of the symptoms of other eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa or Binge Eating Disorder but will not meet the full criteria for diagnosis of these disorders. This does not mean that the person has a less serious eating disorder. People with OSFED often present with extremely disturbed eating habits and/or distorted body image. OSFED is the most common eating disorder diagnosed for adults as well as adolescents.