Eating Disorder Self-Assessment
If you are wondering whether your relationship with food or your body might be an eating disorder, this short, private reflection can help you decide whether to reach out. It takes a few minutes, and nothing you enter is saved or shared.
This is not a diagnostic test and cannot tell you whether you have an eating disorder — only a qualified professional can. It is a starting point, not an answer.
This is not a diagnostic test. It is a private reflection tool to help you decide whether to seek support. Your answers stay in your browser — nothing is saved or sent anywhere. If you are in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or contact the NEDA Helpline.
Read each statement and choose the response that fits best. There are no right or wrong answers.
1. I spend a lot of time thinking about food, calories, eating, or my weight and shape.
2. I feel intense fear, guilt, or distress about eating certain foods or about gaining weight.
3. I restrict how much I eat, skip meals, or follow strict food rules.
4. I sometimes eat a large amount of food and feel out of control while doing it.
5. I do things to "make up for" eating — such as vomiting, using laxatives, fasting, or exercising when I don't want to.
6. How I feel about myself is strongly tied to my weight or how my body looks.
7. I check my body often (mirrors, weighing, pinching, measuring) or avoid seeing it entirely.
8. My eating habits cause me distress or get in the way of my relationships, work, or daily life.
9. I hide, lie about, or feel ashamed of my eating or related behaviors.
10. My relationship with food or my body feels like something I can't manage on my own.
What your answers mean — and don't
A reflection tool like this can highlight patterns, but it cannot diagnose anything. Its purpose is simpler: to help you notice whether food, eating, or body image is causing you distress, and to lower the barrier to reaching out.
The most important thing to know is that you do not need a certain score, a certain weight, or a certain level of severity to deserve help. Eating disorders occur at every body size and in people of every gender, age, race, and background — and less than 6% of people with eating disorders are medically underweight. If something feels wrong, that instinct is worth honoring.
Validated tools clinicians use
Professionals use short, research-backed questionnaires to screen for eating disorders. They flag who may benefit from a fuller assessment — they are not diagnoses on their own.
SCOFF
A brief five-question screen widely used in primary care. Quick and well-studied, with good sensitivity for anorexia and bulimia.
EAT-26 (Eating Attitudes Test)
A 26-item questionnaire assessing eating attitudes and behaviors. Often used alongside the SCOFF to improve detection.
ESP (Eating Disorder Screen for Primary Care)
A five-question screen designed for busy primary care visits, useful for quickly ruling concerns in or out.
NEDA Screening Tool (SWED)
A free online screen from the National Eating Disorders Association, based on the Stanford–Washington University Eating Disorder Screen.
Want to try a validated screen? Read about the SCOFF questionnaire and what its questions mean.
Signs it's worth talking to someone
Consider reaching out to a professional if you notice any of the following persisting over time:
- Food, weight, or body shape occupies a large amount of your thoughts
- You feel anxiety, guilt, or loss of control around eating
- You restrict, binge, or use compensatory behaviors like purging or compulsive exercise
- Your eating is affecting your health, mood, relationships, or daily life
- You feel you cannot manage your relationship with food or your body on your own
You can start by exploring the warning signs of eating disorders, learning about the different types of eating disorders, or going straight to finding help.
You deserve support
Reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness.
If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). For eating disorder support and referrals, contact the NEDA Helpline.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
- Kutz AM, et al. Eating Disorder Screening: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Diagnostic Test Characteristics of the SCOFF. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2019.
- Cotton MA, Ball C, Robinson P. Four Simple Questions Can Help Screen for Eating Disorders (ESP). Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2003.
- National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): Eating Disorder Screening Tool.
- National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): Evaluation and Diagnosis.