UFED applies to symptoms of a feeding and eating disorder that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functions  but do not meet the full criteria for any of the disorders in the feeding and eating disorders diagnostic class. Disordered behaviors can vary greatly. Common behaviors include restriction, bingeing, and/or purging.

 

Although these may seem like ‘catchall’ categories, these disorders can be physically dangerous and emotionally difficult for people struggling with them. Being able to provide a diagnosis to someone who is clearly struggling can also provide validation and possibly more coverage for treatment; it provides professionals and researchers a language to talk about and research other types of disordered eating.

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Thirty-eight women (21% of those with an eating disorder) fell in the residual OSFED/UFED category. A third of them fulfilled OSFED criteria, whereas two thirds fell in the UFED category. The lifetime prevalence of UFED was 1.5% The mean age of onset of UFED is 18 years, median duration of symptoms was two years, and the 5-year probability of recovery was 60%. Over a third of women with UFED suffered from comorbid psychiatric disorders. 

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Any combination of eating disorder behaviors that does not fit the specific diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder in the DSM-5 would be categorized as UFED. Similarly, UFED can be diagnosed if combinations of these behaviors are present, or if they have only recently presented in the individual.

 It is important to remember that a UFED diagnosis should be taken just as seriously as one for any other eating disorder, and that full recovery is possible.