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Atypical anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which individuals meet the qualifications for anorexia nervosa, but are not underweight. Atypical anorexia qualifies as a mental health disorder in the DSM-5, under the category Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders. The characteristics of atypical anorexia patients generally do not differ significantly from anorexia nervosa patients beyond the patient's weight status.
Atypical anorexia was not officially recognized by DSM-4, which included 85% weight loss as criteria for an anorexia nervosa diagnosis. Patients with atypical anorexia were diagnosed with the DSM-4 qualification "eating disorder not otherwise specified" until the DSM-5 was released in 2013. Prior to DSM-5, EDNOS made up the majority of eating disorders diagnoses, making it difficult to estimate the prevalence of atypical anorexia during this period.
Atypical anorexia has historically been used to describe the restrictive eating habits of patients with autism. The DSM-5 superseded this language with the avoidant restrictive food intake disorder diagnosis.