100+ Common Eating Disorder Acronyms, Abbreviations and Terms

While learning about eating disorders, you’ve probably come across many eating disorder abbreviations. Some might be familiar to you, but others could leave you scratching your head.

To help make things simpler, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of more than 100 commonly used eating disorder acronyms and abbreviations.

Common Eating Disorder (ED) Terms

ARFID, AN, and BED are just a few of the many terms used to describe eating disorders. Here’s what these abbreviations mean. We've also linked out to helpful pages where you can learn more.

AAN: Atypical Anorexia Nervosa
ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
AED: Academy for Eating Disorders
AN: Anorexia Nervosa
AN-BP: Anorexia Nervosa - Binge Eating/Purging Type
AN-R: Anorexia Nervosa - Restricting Type
APA: American Psychiatric Association (also American Pediatric Association)
ARFID: Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorders
BDD: Body Dysmorphic Disorder
BED: Binge Eating Disorder
BIPOC: Black, Indigenous and People of Color
BMI: Body Mass Index
BMR: Basal Metabolic Rate
BN: Bulimia Nervosa
BPD: Borderline Personality Disorder
BSFT: Behavioral Systems Family Therapy
CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT-A: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa
CBT-B: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa
CBT-E: Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CHSP: Chew and Spit
CPT: Cognitive Processing Therapy
CRT: Cognitive Remediation Therapy
DBT: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
DX: Diagnosis
EBW: Expected Body Weight
ED: Eating Disorder
EDNOS: Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (from DSM IV and no longer used)
EDO: Eating Disorder
EFFT: Emotion-Focused Family Therapy
EPO: Exclusive Provider Organization
ERC: Eating Recovery Center
ERP: Exposure and Response Prevention
FBT: Family-Based Treatment (for children and adolescents)
FBT-AN: Family-Based Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa
FBT-BN: Family-Based Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa
FCT: Family Centered Treatment
GAD: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
GW: Goal Weight
HLOC: Higher Level of Care
HMO: Health Maintenance Organization
IAEDP: International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals
IBW: Ideal Body Weight
IP: Inpatient Treatment
IOP: Intensive Outpatient Treatment
IT: Interpersonal Therapy
ITU: Intensive Treatment Unit
LGBTQIA+: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual
LOC: Level of Care
MC: Milieu Coordinator
MET: Motivational Enhancement Therapy
MSW: Minimum Safe Weight
NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
NEDA: National Eating Disorder Association
NES: Night Eating Syndrome
NG: Nasogastric (Tube Feeding)
NSSI: Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OSFED: Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders
OTC: Over the Counter (Medications)
PHP: Partial Hospitalization Program
PMDD: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
PPO: Preferred Provider Organizations
PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
RTC: Residential Treatment 
RAC: Recovery Ambassador Council
RO DBT: Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy
SH: Self-Harm
SI: Self-Injury
SIB: Self Injurious Behavior
SSRI: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
TMS: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
TW: Target Weight
VIOP: Virtual Intensive Outpatient Treatment

Acronyms for eating disorder professionals (LCSW, CEDS and more)

When you review the names of eating disorders and mental health professionals, you’ll sometimes see multiple sets of letters after their names. Those letters represent advanced credentials that each professional has earned in their fields of study. 

Here’s what many of the most common professional acronyms mean:

ABPP: American Board of Professional Psychology
ATR: Art Therapist Registered
CD: Certified Dietitian
CDN: Certified Dietitian Nutritionist
CEDS: Certified Eating Disorders Specialist
CEDS-C: Certified Eating Disorders Specialist - Consultant
DFAACAP: Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
DFAPA: Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association
DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice
Dr.: Doctor
DO: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Ed.D.: Doctor of Education
FAAP: Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics
FACP: Fellow of the American College of Physicians
FAND: Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
FAED: Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders
F.iaedp: Fellow of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals
FIPA: Fellow of the International Psychoanalytic Association
FSAM: Fellow of the Society for Adolescent Medicine
FSAHM: Fellow of the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine
FSAHM: Fellow of the Society of Adolescent and Mental Health and Medicine.
LCP: Licensed Clinical Psychologist
LCPC: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
LCSW: Licensed Certified Social Worker; Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW-C: Licensed Certified Social Worker - Clinical 
LD: Licensed Dietitian
LDN: Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist
LMHC: Licensed Mental Health Counselor
LMFT: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
LMSW: Licensed Master Social Worker
LN: Licensed Nutritionist
LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC-S: Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor
MA: Master of Arts
MBA: Master of Business Administration
MCN: Master of Clinical Nutrition
MD: Doctor of Medicine
MS: Master of Science
MSN: Master of Science in Nursing
MSW: Master of Social Work
NCC: National Certified Counselor
NPP: Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry
PCA: Patient Care Assistant
PhD: Doctor of Philosophy
PNP: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
PsyD: Doctor of Psychology
RCC: Registered Clinical Counselor
RD: Registered Dietitian
RDN: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

The field of eating disorders is constantly evolving. Bookmark this page for easy reference and check back periodically for updates.

Connect with the right support at the right time

The more you learn about eating disorders, the closer you are toward making a potential first step toward healing. If you or someone you love lives with an eating disorder, nationally recognized experts are closer than you think.

At Eating Recovery Center (ERC), we believe every person deserves healing. With 35 locations across the country and virtual treatment through Eating Recovery at Home, we will walk side-by-side with you from your initial assessment all the way through to aftercare.

Here, you’ll find leaders in adult, child and adolescent psychiatry, medicine, therapy and nutrition. We’ll listen to your story, meet you where you are, and match you with a level of support that meets your needs.

If you’re ready to talk with someone today, call us at (866) 622-5914 or schedule a free assessment here.

Learn More About Eating Disorders

• Eating Disorder Statistics
• Eating Disorder History
• Types of Eating Disorders
• 50+ Eating Disorder Recovery Tips for Tough Days
• Eating Disorder Facts vs. Myths