Resources
Eating disorder screening tools
Screening tools can't diagnose an eating disorder, but they can help you notice when it might be time to talk to someone. Each one takes about a minute. Answer honestly, and try not to overthink it.
The two screens below are short, evidence-based questionnaires used in medical settings, shared from the National Eating Disorders Collaboration.
Screen 01
Eating Disorder Screen for Primary Care (ESP)
- Are you satisfied with your eating patterns?
- Do you ever eat in secret?
- Does your weight affect the way you feel about yourself?
- Have any members of your family suffered with an eating disorder?
- Do you currently suffer with, or have you ever suffered in the past, with an eating disorder?
Reading your answers
If you answered “no” to question 1, or “yes” to any of questions 2 through 5, it's worth talking with a professional for a fuller assessment.
Screen 02
The SCOFF questionnaire
- SDo you make yourself Sick because you feel uncomfortably full?
- CDo you worry you have lost Control over how much you eat?
- OHave you recently lost more than One stone (about 14 pounds, or 6.35 kg) in a three-month period?
- FDo you believe yourself to be Fat when others say you are too thin?
- FWould you say Food dominates your life?
Reading your answers
If you answered “yes” to two or more questions, it's worth talking with a professional for a fuller assessment.
Intuitive eating
Where should you start with intuitive eating?
This brief assessment is adapted from Dr. Tracy Tylka's research and shared by Evelyn Tribole, one of the two dietitians who created intuitive eating. It groups statements into three core areas: permission to eat, eating for physical rather than emotional reasons, and trusting your hunger and fullness cues.
Check the statements that apply to you. The section with the most checks is a good place to start, and a great thing to bring to our first session.