Eating disorders that are difficult to detect – Dr. Linda Booij

Published on: 2026-05-19 08:00

June 2, 2026,

An article published in Le Devoir highlights a little-known reality: atypical eating disorders. Contrary to common misconceptions, it is possible to suffer from anorexia or other eating disorders without being underweight. Yet these atypical forms can cause psychological distress that is just as severe as that experienced in more widely recognized eating disorders.

At the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, nearly one in four patients treated for an eating disorder receives a diagnosis of Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED). According to psychologist and researcher Linda Booij, these disorders may account for nearly half of all eating disorders worldwide.

« OSFED should be taken just as seriously as other eating disorder diagnoses. »

– Dr. Linda Booij

Research conducted by Dr. Booij involving more than 800 patients treated between 2018 and 2025 found that individuals living with atypical eating disorders experience levels of anxiety and depression comparable to those seen in more traditional forms of eating disorders.

The article also emphasizes the importance of challenging persistent stereotypes. Eating disorders do not affect only young women, nor are they always associated with low body weight. They can affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds.

« People often believe that you have to be thin or underweight to seek help. But that is simply not the case. »

– Dr. Linda Booij

Eating disorders that are difficult to detect – Dr. Linda Booij

Media: Website

Source: Le Devoir