background In the dsm-5, feeding disorders and eating disorders have been integrated into one single category. aim To review the rationale for changes in the criteria for feeding and eating disorders in dsm-5. method The revised criteria were drafted and formulated by a dsm-5 workgroup. Next, professionals were given the opportunity to react to the proposed revisions by participating in several discussion rounds. results The criteria for anorexia nervosa have been reworded and the amenorrhea criterion has been removed. The threshold for the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa has been lowered so that once-a-week binge eating and complementary behaviours are now sufficient for a patient to be diagnosed as having bulimia nervosa. Subtyping of bulimia nervosa has been removed. There are hardly any changes in the criteria for pica and rumination disorder. Two new official feeding and eating disorders have been introduced into dsm-5: avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder and binge eating disorder. conclusion The definition of and the criteria for feeding and eating disorders given in dsm-5 are an improvement on those used in dsm-iv and should help to reduce the eating disorders not otherwise specified (ednos).