Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OFSED) Treatment
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder Treatment in Greenwich, Darien, Westport, Westchester, and Surrounding Areas in Connecticut and New York.
What is Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OFSED)?
Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OFSED) is a ‘catch-all’ classification for individuals who have an eating disorder but do not meet other diagnostic criteria. It includes atypical or subclinical anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and bulimia nervosa.
What are the symptoms of OFSED?
Symptoms of OFSED are similar to that of other eating disorders and can include weight fluctuations, concerns with weight loss and dieting, skipping meals, developing food rituals, stealing or hoarding food, drinking excessive amounts of non-caloric beverages, exercising excessively, extreme mood swings, withdrawal from friends, refusing to eat certain foods or categories of foods and avoid eating with others.
Is OFSED as serious?
Research has shown that OFSED is as severe of an eating disorder as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating eating disorder. People with OFSED score as high on eating disorder and general psychopathology, have just as much of a risk of severe medical complications and are just as likely to die from their eating disorder.
What are the health consequences of OFSED?
People with OFSED often have gastrointestinal issues, menstrual irregularities, abnormal lab findings, experience dizziness and fainting, dental problems, and impaired immune functioning.
How do you treat OFSED?
We treat OFSED similarly to how we treat anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. We use Dr. Fairburn's Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Treatment. CBT is a treatment for eating disorders with the strongest scientific evidence. We will work with you to implement behavioral strategies including the establishment of a regular pattern of eating, stopping binge and purge behaviors, systematic exposure to forbidden foods, creating motivation for change, and challenging disturbance in the experience of shape and weight as well as the tie between personal identity and the eating disorder. We also integrate mindfulness and acceptance techniques to help you regulate emotions and disengage from eating-disordered thoughts.
What kind of experience do you have in treating OFSED?
Dr. Sala has extensive training in treating OFSED, including experience at inpatient eating disorder units and a decade-long research career working with leaders in the field. Dr. Sala is the Director of the Mindfulness, Eating Disorders, and Acceptance Lab (MEAL) at Yeshiva University, where she conducts eating disorder treatment research. She received training in Family-Based Treatment for eating disorders from Stanford University and utilizes it in her work with children and adolescents.