Care and treatment of eating disorders: national specification

Who the Specification Applies To

The Specification applies to the full developmental range of individuals who may present with eating disorders including children, young people, adults, and older adults. It also incorporates the full range of ICD-11 eating disorder presentations including AN, BN, BED, and Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED) (ICD11, 2022).

The Specification also includes ARFID, characterised by either: avoidance or restriction of food resulting in significant weight loss; clinically significant nutritional deficiencies; dependence on oral nutritional supplements or tube feeding; compromised physical health; or significant impairment in functioning (ICD-11, 2022). ARFID is not underpinned by a preoccupation with body weight or shape and as a result, is classified as a Feeding Disorder in ICD-11. However, it has been included in the Specification as it is recognised that the expertise of eating disorder professionals may be required to support comprehensive multi-agency treatment pathways in collaboration with a range of other organisations and services to provide the support required to meet patients' needs. This is a position mirrored by SIGN (2022), the National Review of Eating Disorder Services (2021), and MEED (2022).