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Are you at risk? Take a self-test.

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 select True or False for each item.

The test and your visit to this website are anonymous.

Even though people tell me I’m thin, I feel fat. True or False
I get anxious if I can’t exercise. True or False
[Female] My menstrual periods are irregular or absent. True or False
[Male] My sex drive is not as strong as it used to be. True or False
I worry about what I will eat.True or False
If I gain weight, I get anxious and depressed. True or False
I would rather eat by myself than with family or friends. True or False
Other people talk about the way I eat. True or False
I get anxious when people urge me to eat.True or False
I don’t talk much about my fear of being fat because no one understands how I feel. True or False
I enjoy cooking for others, but I usually don’t eat what I’ve cooked.True or False
I have a secret stash of food.True or False
When I eat, I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop.True or False
I lie about what I eatTrue or False
I don’t like to be bothered or interrupted when I’m eating. True or False
If I were thinner, I would like myself better.True or False
I like to read recipes, cookbooks, calorie charts, and books about dieting and exercise.True or False
I have missed work or school because of my weight or eating habits.True or False
I tend to be depressed and irritable.True or False
I feel guilty when I eat.True or False
I avoid some people because they bug me about the way I eat. True or False
When I eat, I feel bloated and fat.True or False
My eating habits and fear of food interfere with friendships or romantic relationships.True or False
I binge eat.True or 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 or False
I get anxious when people watch me eat.True or False
I am hardly ever satisfied with myself.True or False
I vomit or take laxatives to control my weight.True or False
I want to be thinner than my friends.True or False
I have said or thought, “I would rather die than be fat.True or False
I have stolen food, laxatives, or diet pills from stores or from other people.True or False
I have fasted to lose weight.True or False
In romantic moments, I cannot let myself go because I am worried about my fat and flab.True or 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, weakness, fainting, rapid or irregular
heartbeat.		True or 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 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: ANRED 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.

Source: Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. www.anred.com

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