What is My Relationship With Food?
The following questionnaire* can help you decide if you have an eating disorder, or if you are at risk of developing one. The easiest way to take the test is to print it out, check True or False for each item, and then read the explanatory paragraph at the end. The test and your visit to this Web site are anonymous.
Even though people tell me I'm thin, I feel fat.
True
False
I get anxious if I can't exercise.
True
False
[Female] My menstrual periods are irregular or absent.
[Male] My sex drive is not as strong as it used to be.
True
False
I worry about what I will eat.
True
False
If I gain weight, I get anxious and depressed.
True
False
I would rather eat by myself than with family or friends.
True
False
Other people talk about the way I eat.
True
False
I get anxious when people urge me to eat.
True
False
I don't talk much about my fear of being fat because no one understands how I feel.
True
False
I enjoy cooking for others, but I usually don't eat what I've cooked.
True
False
I have a secret stash of food.
True
False
When I eat, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop.
True
False
I lie about what I eat.
True
False
I don't like to be bothered or interrupted when I'm eating.
True
False
If I were thinner, I would like myself better.
True
False
I like to read recipes, cookbooks, calorie charts, and books about dieting and exercise.
True
False
I have missed work or school because of my weight or eating habits.
True
False
I tend to be depressed and irritable.
True
False
I feel guilty when I eat.
True
False
I avoid some people because they bug me about the way I eat.
True
False
When I eat, I feel bloated and fat.
True
False
My eating habits and fear of food interfere with friendships or romantic relationships.
True
False
I binge eat.
True
False
I do strange things with my food (cut it into tiny pieces, eat it in special ways, eat it on special dishes
with special utensils, make patterns on my plate with it, secretly throw it away, give it to the dog, hide it,
spit it out before I swallow, etc.)
True
False
I get anxious when people watch me eat.
True
False
I am hardly ever satisfied with myself.
True
False
I vomit or take laxatives to control my weight.
True
False
I want to be thinner than my friends.
True
False
I have said or thought, "I would rather die than be fat."
True
False
I have stolen food, laxatives, or diet pills from stores or from other people.
True
False
I have fasted to lose weight.
True
False
In romantic moments, I cannot let myself go because I am worried about my fat and flab.
True
False
I have noticed one or more of the following: cold hands and feet, dry skin, thinning hair, fragile nails,
swollen glands in my neck, dental cavities, dizziness, weakness, fainting, rapid or irregular heartbeat.
True
False
Discussion and scoring
As strange as it seems in our thin-obsessed society, none of the above behaviors is normal or healthy. Because of unhealthy demands for unrealistic thinness, most women -- and a lot of men -- will check a few of the above items "True." But remember, the more items you have marked True, the more serious your situation may be. Please consult with your physician or a qualified mental health counselor to prevent medical and psychological problems. You could show the person this questionnaire and the items you have circled as a way to begin the conversation.
People do recover from eating disorders, but almost all of those who do, need professional help to get back on track. We know this is hard, and we appreciate your courage as you take the first step by calling today to make an appointment with your physician or counselor.
Please Note: ANAD information is not a substitute for medical or psychological evaluation and treatment. For help with the physical and emotional problems associated with eating disorders, talk to your physician and a mental health professional.
* Courtesy of ANAD