Billing note
F50.0 is the parent category under U.S. ICD-11-CM and is not billable on its own. For claims, use one of the 5-character subtype codes:
- F50.00, Anorexia Nervosa, unspecified (use when the subtype is not yet documented)
- F50.01, Anorexia Nervosa, restricting type
- F50.02, Anorexia Nervosa, binge-eating/purging type
This page covers the parent category and shared diagnostic criteria. The Subtypes section below documents the criteria that distinguish F50.01 from F50.02 over the most recent 3-month window.
DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria summary
Anorexia Nervosa requires:
- Criterion A, Restriction of energy intake relative to requirements, leading to significantly low body weight in the context of age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health.
- Criterion B, Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, or persistent behavior that interferes with weight gain, even at significantly low weight.
- Criterion C, Disturbance in the way one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight/shape on self-evaluation, OR persistent lack of recognition of the seriousness of the current low body weight.
Subtypes (last 3 months):
- F50.01 Restricting Type, weight loss accomplished primarily through dieting, fasting, and/or excessive exercise, without recurrent binge eating or purging.
- F50.02 Binge Eating/Purging Type, recurrent episodes of binge eating or purging behavior (self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, enemas).
Severity (adults, by BMI): Mild ≥17.0, Moderate 16.0–16.99, Severe 15.0–15.99, Extreme <15.0.
Source: American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), p. 372–381.
Differential diagnosis
- F50.2 Bulimia Nervosa, recurrent binge eating + compensation WITHOUT significantly low body weight; F50.0 binge-purge subtype shares behaviors but adds the low-weight criterion.
- F50.81 Binge Eating Disorder, recurrent binge eating WITHOUT compensatory behaviors and without significantly low weight.
- F50.89 Other Specified Feeding/Eating Disorder (Atypical Anorexia), meets all anorexia criteria EXCEPT the significantly low body weight; equally medically serious.
- F50.82 Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), restrictive eating without weight/shape concerns (sensory aversions, fear of choking, lack of interest in food).
- F33, F32 Major Depressive Disorder, appetite/weight loss in depression lacks the body image disturbance.
- Medical conditions, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, malignancy, hyperthyroidism, addisons disease, must be ruled out.
Common comorbidities
Anorexia Nervosa has very high lifetime psychiatric comorbidity. Common co-occurring conditions: Major Depressive Disorder (F33, F32), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (F41.1), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (F42.2, particularly common), Substance Use Disorders (F10–F19), and personality disorders. Medical comorbidities are also serious and require integrated treatment: cardiac arrhythmias, electrolyte disturbances, osteoporosis, amenorrhea, gastrointestinal complications.
Sources
- American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), F50.0, p. 372–381.
- Garner, D. M., Olmsted, M. P., Bohr, Y., & Garfinkel, P. E. (1982). The Eating Attitudes Test: Psychometric features. Psychological Medicine, 12(4), 871–878.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ICD-10-CM Official Coding Guidelines.