Eating Disorder ICD-10-CM Codes | 2023
Read this short guide to learn about Eating Disorder ICD codes you can use!
Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.
What Eating Disorder ICD-10 codes can I use?
If you’re looking for Eating Disorder ICD codes, there are several to pick from.
The basic code you’re looking for is F50.9 - Eating disorder, unspecified. This ICD-10 code can be used once you’ve confirmed that your patient has an eating disorder. One thing to note, though, is that it comes with an unspecified label, which means the specific eating disorder hasn’t been identified. Once it’s identified please use more specific ICD-10 codes like the ones below:
- F50.00 - Anorexia nervosa, unspecified
If you’ve confirmed that your patient has Anorexia Nervosa, you can use this ICD-10 code.
This is characterized by extreme limitation of calorie intake and the kinds of food a person consumes. A distorted self-image also characterizes it in terms of body weight, which leads to an intense fear of gaining weight.
This also has an unspecified label.
If you’ve determined their Anorexia Nervosa is the Restrictive type (weight loss is based on extreme calorie and food choice restriction), please use F50.01 - Anorexia nervosa, restricting type.
If you’ve determined their Anorexia Nervosa is the Binge Eating/Purging Type (they excessively exercise, force themselves to vomit the food they just ate, and abuse laxatives/diuretics), please use F50.02 - Anorexia nervosa, binge eating/purging type.
- F50.2 - Bulimia nervosa
If you’ve confirmed that your patient has Bulimia Nervosa, use this ICD-10 code.
This is characterized by eating large amounts of food at once and then purging them as soon as possible, either by self-induced vomiting or by abusing laxatives/diuretics.
This has similarities with the binge eating/purging type of Anorexia Nervosa. The difference is those with Bulimia Nervosa have normal body weight for their age and height, while those with that type of Anorexia Nervosa are way below the body weight they’re supposed to have.
- F50.81 - Binge eating disorder
If you’ve confirmed that your patient has a Binge Eating Disorder, use this ICD-10 code.
This is characterized by the frequent consumption of large amounts of food and the feeling of being unable to stop eating.
- F50.82 - Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
If you’ve confirmed that your patient has Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), use this ICD-10 code.
This is characterized by extreme limitation of food interests, avoiding certain foods with certain smells and textures, and lacking interest in eating and food in general.
If your patient has an eating disorder that doesn’t have a specific ICD-10 code, please use F50.89 - Other specified eating disorder. This ICD-10 code is meant for eating disorders that don’t have specific ICD-10 codes.
Are these Eating Disorder ICD-10 codes billable?
Yes. All these ICD-10 codes for Eating Disorders are valid and billable.
Clinical Information About Eating Disorders:
An Eating Disorder is a type of mental health condition. People with this kind of disorder have abnormal eating habits and attitudes, sometimes to an extreme degree that their mental health is affected by it, and they develop distorted views of eating food and body weight.
These distorted views can turn into actions, such as almost completely avoiding eating, being extremely picky with what food to eat, avoiding food with certain smells and textures, forcing themselves to vomit, and abusing laxatives and diuretics. You can read the gist about the different types of eating disorders in the list above.
Eating Disorders are potentially life-threatening because they can result in overeating, which leads to extreme weight gain, obesity, heart disease, and cancer.
They can also result in malnutrition for those who avoid eating food because they don’t get the necessary nutrients. Malnutrition can lead to weakened immune systems, brain problems, impaired wound healing, weakness, and kidney problems, to mention a few.
Synonyms Include:
- Atypical anorexia nervosa
- Atypical bulimia nervosa
- Bulimia nervosa
- Eating disorder
- Eating disorder in remission
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia nervosa
- Binge eating behavior
- Binge eating disorder
- Compulsive eating pattern
- Binge eating disorder ICD 10
- Eating disorder ICD 10
- ICD 10 binge eating disorder
- ICD 10 eating disorder
- ICD 10 code for eating disorder
Commonly asked questions
Healthcare professionals will conduct comprehensive examinations of their patients. These examinations will include psychological evaluations, physical evaluations, and interviews regarding their patients' eating habits, attitudes, and beliefs.
They will cross-check everything with the latest edition of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. If their findings match the criteria for eating disorders, they can diagnose the patient with one.
If there is significant weight loss or gain in a short period, there is a noticeable change in their eating habits; they start expressing dissatisfaction or disappointment in their body image and weight; they start excessively exercising; they start withdrawing from social interactions or avoid them; they become irritable or exhibit other changes in their moods or behaviors.
Eating disorders can be treated with psychotherapy and nutrition counseling. Those with eating disorders likely have other mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression, so antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication might be administered and prescribed.
