Eating Disorder Quiz

Do You Have an Eating Disorder?

Due to an increase in public awareness, ANOREXIA NERVOSA
(key symptoms: refusal to maintain a minimally healthy body weight, intense fear
of gaining weight, and a significant disturbance in the perception of the shape or size
of ones body) and BULIMIA NERVOSA (key symptoms: binge eating- eating what the
individual considers to be too much food in a way that feels out of control- followed by
inappropriate compensatory behaviors (e.g. self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise)
are becoming more and more openly acknowledged.

The following questionnaire will tell you whether or not you think you behave in a way
that indicates that you have tendencies toward anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.

DIRECTIONS:
Answer the questions below honestly. Respond as you are now, not the way you
used to be or the way you would like to be. For an accurate score, do not leave
any questions blank (unless instructed to do so).

  • 1. I have eating habits that are different from those of my family and friends.

  • 2. I cannot go through the day without worrying about what I will or will not eat.

  • 3. I prefer to eat alone or when I am sure that no one will see me.

  • 4. I make excuses (e.g. "I already ate", "I am not feeling well", etc.) so that I will not have to eat with friends and family.

  • 5. I have uncontrollable eating binges during which I consume large amounts of food and afterwards I make myself vomit.

  • 6. I find myself cutting up my food into tiny pieces, hiding food so people will think I ate it, chewing it and spitting it out without swallowing it and/or keeping hidden stashes of food.

  • 7. I have determined that there are certain "safe" foods that are okay for me to eat, and "bad" foods that I refuse to eat.

  • 8. I become angry when others show interest in what I eat and pressure me to eat more.

  • 9. I am afraid that no one would understand my fears about food and eating, so I keep these feelings to myself.

  • 10. I enjoy cooking gourmet meals and/or high calorie foods for others, but I would never eat them myself.

  • 11. I go through long periods of time without eating (fasting) or eating very little as means of weight control.

  • 12. My friends tell me that I am thin, but I do not believe them because I feel fat.

  • 13. I would panic if I got on the scale and found out that I had gained weight.

  • 14. I use laxatives or diuretics as a means of weight control.

  • 15. I have an overwhelming fear of gaining weight.

  • 16. I exercise excessively to try to lose weight and I become anxious if I miss a workout.

  • 17. It is very important that I am thinner than all of my friends.

  • 18. I am unable to maintain a weight that is considered healthy and consistent with my build, age and height.

  • 19. (Females only) My menstrual period has stopped or become irregular due to no known medical reasons.

  • 20. I can spend hours reading books or magazines about dieting, exercising, fitness, or calorie counting.

  • 21. I have felt depressed and irritable lately, and spend most of my time alone.

  • 22. I tend to be a perfectionist; I am not satisfied unless things are perfect.