Eating Attitudes Test

By D.M. Garner, M.P. Olmsted, Y. Bohr, and P.E. Garfinkel

Use this quiz to help you determine if you might need to see a mental health
professional for diagnosis and treatment of anorexia, bulimia, or another eating
disorder.

Instructions: This is a screening measure to help you determine whether you might
have an eating disorder that needs professional attention. This screening measure is
not designed to make a diagnosis of an eating disorder or take the place of a
professional diagnosis or consultation. Please take the time to fill out the below form
as accurately, honestly and completely as possible. All of your responses are
confidential.

Please choose a response for each of the following statements:

Always Usually Often Sometimes Rarely
Never
I am terrified about being overweight.
I avoid eating when I am hungry. I find myself preoccupied with food.
I have gone on eating binges where I feel that I may not be able to stop.
I cut my food into small pieces.
I am aware of the calorie content of foods that I eat.

Always Usually Often Sometimes Rarely

Never
I particularly avoid food with a high carbohydrate content (i.e. bread, rice, potatoes,
etc.)
I feel that others would prefer if I ate more.
I vomit after I have eaten.
I feel extremely guilty after eating.
I am preoccupied with a desire to be thinner.
I think about burning up calories when I exercise.

Always Usually Often Sometimes Rarely

Never
Other people think that I am too thin.
I am preoccupied with the thought of having fat on my body.
I take longer than others to eat my meals.
I avoid foods with sugar in them.
I eat diet foods.
I feel that food controls my life.
Always Usually Often Sometimes Rarely
Never
I display self-control around food.
I feel that others pressure me to eat.
I give too much time and thought to food.
I feel uncomfortable after eating sweets.
I engage in dieting behavior.
I like my stomach to be empty.
I have the impulse to vomit after meals.
I enjoy trying rich new foods.
The second part of the test requires answering just 6 more questions, then your score
and results will be calculated and displayed for you.

1. Have you gone on eating binges where you feel that you may not be able to stop?
Eating much more food than most people would eating under the same
circumstances.
No
Yes
2. Have you ever made yourself sick (vomitted) to control your weight or shape?
No
Yes
3. Have you ever used laxatives, diet pills or diuretics (water pills) to control your
weight or shape? No
Yes
4. Have you ever been treated for an eating disorder?
No
Yes
5. Have you recently thought of or attempted suicide?
No
Yes
6. Your height and weight:
Height: feet =
and inches =
Weight: pounds =

Results of your Eating Attitude Test

You scored a total of 56
Based upon your responses to this eating attitude test, your scores are similar
to others who have an eating disorder or at risk for developing an eating disorder.
You are at significant risk for an eating disorder and likely experience serious eating
or weight concerns.
Eating disorders include anorexia and bulimia. (You can also read up on
treatment information for anorexia and bulimia.) This is not a diagnosis, or a
recommendation for treatment. However, it would be advisable and likely beneficial
for you to seek a professional diagnosis from a trained mental health professional in
your community immediately.
You have also noted behaviors that indicate a potentially significant problem
common among people with eating disorders (such as bingeing, vomitting, using
laxatives, etc.). This further strongly suggests you should seek a additional help from
an eating disorder specialist. From your responses, it appears that you
may be actively dieting.
It appears that you may also have an active preoccupation with food, often
associated with bulimia.
It also appears that you have difficulty with self-control over eating.
SCORES
If you scored... Eating disorder is...
24 & up Likely / high risk
20 - 23 Probable / at risk
0 - 19 Unlikely

Your Total 56
Dieting subscale 33
Food preoccupation subscale 15
Self-control subscale 8
Your Body-Mass Index (BMI) 19.1
If your BMI is... You may be...
Below 18.5 Underweight
18.5 - 24.9 Normal
25.0 - 29.9 Overweight
30.0 and Above Obese

(This is not meant as a diagnosis tool! If you are suffering from feelings
which are causing you concern and interfere with your daily functioning,
you should seek immediate treatment from a trained mental health
professional within your community. Many people who take this test also
benefit from reviewing our Eating Disorders information library or
checking out other online resources about eating disorders. Disclaimer:
We are not responsible for any use or misuse of this tool and we disclaim
all warranties, express or implied, on the information provided here. )