ICD-10 Code F50.23 – Bulimia nervosa, severe (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F50.23 – Bulimia nervosa, severe
What it is
F50.23 identifies bulimia nervosa with severe severity. Use it when documentation states the eating disorder is bulimia nervosa and the severity is specifically severe.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Bulimia nervosa commonly involves recurrent binge eating with compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise.
When to use this code
Use F50.23 when the provider documents bulimia nervosa and clearly labels it severe. It is appropriate in outpatient, inpatient, or behavioral health records when the diagnosis is established and severity is part of the assessment.
If the note only says bulimia nervosa without severity, check documentation before assigning this code. You should code the documented severity level rather than assuming it from symptoms alone.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for anorexia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, or unspecified eating disorder. Do not use it when bulimia nervosa is documented without a severity designation; check documentation.
Coding tip
Confirm that “severe” is explicitly documented, since severity drives the code selection.