Do You Have an Eating Disorder?
Take the Eating Disorder Assessment Quiz
This free eating disorder quiz is 16 yes-or-no questions about eating, weight and body image, and it takes about three minutes. It can’t diagnose an eating disorder. It shows which of your experiences match common warning signs and what to do next.
About 3 minutes. No sign-up, and the quiz never asks for your name, email or phone number.
Who are you taking the quiz for?
See all 16 questions first
- Do you worry about your weight and body shape more than other people?
- Do you avoid certain foods for reasons other than allergies or religious reasons?
- Are you often on a diet?
- Do you feel your weight is an important aspect of your identity?
- Are you fearful of gaining weight?
- Do you often feel out of control when you eat?
- Do you regularly eat what others may consider to be a large quantity of food at one time?
- Do you regularly eat until feeling uncomfortably full?
- Do you hide what you eat from others, or eat in secret?
- Do you often feel fat?
- Do you feel guilty or depressed after eating?
- Do you ever make yourself vomit (throw up) after eating?
- Do you use your insulin in ways not prescribed to manage your weight?
- Do you take any medication or supplements to compensate for eating or to give yourself permission to eat?
- Do you exercise for the sole purpose of weight control?
- Have people expressed concern about your relationship with food or your body?
One conversation, a clear next step
Whatever your result, you can talk it through with us. You can call for yourself or for someone you’re worried about.
Call or request a screening
Call 888-364-5977 or send a screening request online. No referral needed.
Talk with our admissions coordinator
A screening with our admissions coordinator covers what’s going on and what you’re hoping for. Not everyone needs a full medical intake to get started.
Get a recommended level of care
We recommend care that fits, from outpatient and virtual treatment to residential, and verify your insurance at no cost. There is no obligation.
Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime
Share of real cases the five-question SCOFF screen caught in a community study
The year The Emily Program opened its doors
In-person care in six states, plus virtual treatment
How much can a quiz tell you?
How accurate is an online eating disorder quiz?
Screening questionnaires are good at flagging possible eating disorders and less good at ruling them out. The most studied short screen, the five-question SCOFF, counts two “yes” answers as a positive result. In a general-population study of adults in South London, it correctly identified about 54% of people who had an eating disorder and correctly cleared about 94% of people who didn’t.
So a low score is a starting point. If something about food or your body worries you, that concern is reason enough to talk to someone. Only a clinician can diagnose an eating disorder.
Solmi et al., International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2015: sensitivity 53.7%, specificity 93.5%.
Signs a quiz can’t see
Eating disorders happen in people of every size, age and gender. Someone can be in medical danger from restriction without being underweight, which clinicians call atypical anorexia.
Some eating disorders have nothing to do with weight. ARFID often shows up as fear of choking or vomiting, or a very short list of tolerable foods.
Every eating disorder, every level of care
Care is available at every level, including virtual treatment. See treatment programs and levels of care.
Questions people ask about eating disorder quizzes
How do I know if I have an eating disorder?
Signs include thinking about food, weight or your body so much that it gets in the way of daily life, eating in ways you feel unable to control, restricting or compensating after eating, and feeling guilt or shame around food. A quiz can show which signs apply to you. A diagnosis comes from a clinician who specializes in eating disorders.
Can an online quiz diagnose an eating disorder?
No. Online quizzes are screening tools. They point out experiences that are common in eating disorders so you can decide whether to talk to a professional.
What eating disorder do I have?
Only an evaluation can answer that. Your quiz result shows which patterns your answers touched on, such as restriction, binge eating or compensatory behaviors, and links to what those patterns can mean. Many people have symptoms from more than one category, and other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED) is one of the most common diagnoses.
Can you have an eating disorder at a normal weight?
Yes. Most people with eating disorders are not underweight, and weight alone can’t tell you or a doctor how sick someone is.
Is it an eating disorder or just dieting?
Dieting can become an eating disorder when rules about food become rigid, when breaking them brings intense guilt or anxiety, or when eating, weight or exercise start to crowd out other parts of life. Dieting is a well-documented risk factor for developing an eating disorder.
Does my child have an eating disorder?
Choose “Someone I love” in the quiz to answer the questions about your child. Changes to watch for include skipping family meals, new food rules, secrecy around eating, a sudden focus on exercise, and weight changes or missed growth. Our guide on how to help a child with an eating disorder covers how to start the conversation.
How do I tell someone I have an eating disorder?
Pick a calm, private moment and someone you trust. You don’t need the right words or a diagnosis. Saying “I’m struggling with food and I need help” is enough to start. You can also call us first and practice what to say.