Eating Disorder Test: Get a Two-Stage Screen of Eating Concerns and Their Severity
This eating disorder test screens eating concerns with SCOFF and the EDE-QS severity measure. Get an instant result showing warning signs and recent symptoms, with an optional report to discuss with a clinician.
Reviewed by Michael Callans, MSW 
Eating Disorder Test is a free, confidential 17-question self-assessment, sCOFF + EDE-QS, two validated instruments. It takes about 10 minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and gives you a plain-language score across 4 interpretation bands plus an optional in-depth report. It is an educational screening, not a diagnosis.
A quick screen, then a real severity score
An eating disorder test screens for patterns of eating-related behavior and distress that deserve further assessment. This one pairs the five-question SCOFF with the 12-item EDE-QS, so you see both whether a concern is flagged and how intense symptoms have been over the past seven days.
The SCOFF quick screen
Five yes-or-no questions covering core warning signs: loss of control, weight loss, body-image distress, and how much food dominates your thoughts. Answering yes to two or more is the validated positive-screen threshold.
EDE-QS severity score
Twelve questions about the past 7 days: restricting, going long stretches without eating, loss of control while eating, fear of weight gain, and how much weight and shape influence the way you judge yourself. Scored 0 to 36, with 15 or more suggesting a clinically significant eating problem.
A recent time window
The EDE-QS asks specifically about the past seven days, so your severity score reflects how things have been lately, not your whole history. That makes it useful for tracking change over time too.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Validated SCOFF questions | Sometimes | Yes, all 5 items |
| Real severity measure (EDE-QS) | Rarely | Yes, all 12 items |
| Research-based cutoffs (2+ and 15+) | Rarely | Yes, clearly explained |
| Supportive, non-triggering framing | Often clinical | Yes, trauma-informed |
| Clinician-reviewed interpretation | Rarely | Yes, clinician reviewed |
| Optional in-depth personalized report | No | Yes, written to your exact scores |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
How scoring works
Answers are scored 0–36 in total. Your result falls into one of 4 bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–7 | Minimal signals this week | Your EDE-QS score falls in the lowest range, which means the past 7 days brought few of the thoughts and behaviors this measure tracks. That is reassuring, though it is one part of the picture. |
| 8–14 | Some disordered-eating signals | Your EDE-QS score sits below the clinical threshold, but the past 7 days did bring some of the thoughts or behaviors this measure tracks. That is worth paying gentle attention to. |
| 15–24 | At the clinical threshold | Your EDE-QS score is at or above 15, the validated threshold suggesting a clinically significant eating problem. A fuller evaluation with a professional is genuinely recommended, and it is a kind step to take, not an alarming one. |
| 25–36 | High severity | Your EDE-QS score falls in the highest range, which suggests the past 7 days have been heavy: food, weight, or your body have likely been taking up a great deal of room. Please consider reaching out for support soon. You should not have to carry this alone. |
How common is this?
This eating disorder test screens for eating concerns and recent symptom severity using SCOFF and EDE-QS questions. Results can help you explain what has been difficult, but they cannot diagnose an eating disorder or establish medical safety. Screening questions land differently when you know how many other people are answering them the same way. Our eating disorder statistics page collects the current numbers on eating disorders in the United States, each one with its source and the year it was measured next to it.
None of those figures say anything about your own result. They are context for it, and a reminder that whatever the score, this is common ground rather than rare territory.
Who Should Take This Eating Disorder Test
This Eating Disorder Test is built for anyone who has noticed food, weight, or body image taking up more space in their thinking than they would like, whether that shows up as restricting, skipping meals, compulsive exercise, or near-constant self-judgment about your body. It works equally well whether you are unsure if what you are experiencing counts as a problem, or you already suspect it does and want clearer language for what you are noticing.
If your main concern centers on how you see your body rather than how you eat, our Body Dysmorphia Test looks at that more directly. If episodes of eating a large amount of food with a felt loss of control are the main pattern, our Binge Eating Disorder (BED) Test goes deeper on that specific presentation. Working through our Body Image Worksheet, or searching the Psychology.com therapist directory for an eating-disorder specialist, are both concrete next steps regardless of what your score shows.
You do not need to look unwell or have a particular body size to ask for assessment. Tell the clinician if concerns involve sensory aversion, fear of eating, loss of control, or pressure to compensate after meals. These details help explain what a screening total might miss. You can also ask a trusted person to accompany you if describing the problem feels difficult.
What to bring to an eating disorder assessment
You can bring your screening results along with a description of what has been difficult: eating with other people, feeling out of control around food, avoiding meals, or exercising despite exhaustion. Include symptoms that the questions did not capture and tell the clinician if you skipped answers or chose an uncertain response. You do not need to repeat screening until you reach a higher score before asking for help.
Eating disorders can affect people at any body weight. Medical care and monitoring are part of assessment and treatment, as the National Institute of Mental Health explains. Tell your clinician about physical changes and eating behaviors as well as distress about weight or shape. The score cannot establish whether your body is medically safe.
The Psychology.com tests hub can help you find related self-assessments. If avoidance is mainly about food texture, fear of choking, or limited interest in eating, the ARFID Test explores concerns that this screen may miss. Choose a related screen only when it addresses a specific unanswered question.
A physical assessment may include blood tests to check hydration and electrolytes, the minerals involved in normal body function, and a heart tracing when indicated. NICE guidance recommends urgent medical care for severe dehydration, severe electrolyte imbalance, or severe malnutrition. A questionnaire cannot identify these complications. If you feel acutely unwell, seek medical care without waiting for a higher screening score or a routine therapy appointment.
How Do Uncertain or Skipped Answers Affect the Result?
On this page, the SCOFF options for uncertainty and preferring not to answer are scored like a negative response. This can lower the total even when the underlying concern has not been resolved. Keep a note of questions you could not answer comfortably and discuss them at an appointment. You can ask for clarification without forcing yourself to choose an answer that feels inaccurate.
The original research thresholds apply to the source questionnaires and their study populations. They do not establish the accuracy of every change in wording, answer options, or online presentation. If a low result conflicts with ongoing distress or someone close to you has noticed concerning changes, explain that mismatch to a clinician. Repeating the questionnaire until it gives a reassuring result will not resolve the unanswered concern.
Methodology & sources
This test combines two validated instruments in a two-stage design. Stage one adapts the SCOFF questionnaire developed by Morgan, Reid, and Lacey (1999), with wording adjusted for clarity and supportive presentation. Each of its five questions is answered yes or no, and the research found that answering yes to two or more best identified people likely to have anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, at a threshold designed to catch concerns rather than confirm a diagnosis. For comfort we add two non-scoring options, "I'm not sure" and "Prefer not to say"; both count as No, which can reduce the total without establishing that the underlying concern is absent.
Stage two adapts the 12 items of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short (EDE-QS), developed and validated by Gideon and colleagues (2016) as a brief version of the widely used EDE-Q. Each item asks about the past 7 days and is scored 0 to 3, giving a total from 0 to 36. A score of 15 or more is the validated threshold suggesting a clinically significant eating problem. One honest adaptation: the published EDE-QS rates its first ten items on a days-based scale (0 days, 1 to 2, 3 to 5, 6 to 7) and its last two items on a degree scale (not at all to markedly). Because this test presents one answer scale for all twelve items, we use combined labels such as "Not at all / 0 days" through "Markedly / 6-7 days" that read naturally for both item types. The scoring values (0 to 3) are unchanged from the published instrument.
This test is provided for education and self-reflection, not diagnosis. The SCOFF is intentionally sensitive, meaning it errs toward flagging concern, so a positive screen does not mean you have an eating disorder, and a negative screen does not rule one out, especially for patterns the SCOFF was not designed to detect such as binge eating disorder or ARFID. The EDE-QS severity score is likewise a screening measure, not a diagnosis. Whatever your results, if your relationship with food or your body causes you distress, that is reason enough to talk with a professional.
The EDE-QS screening cutoff of 15 comes from the later analysis by Prnjak and colleagues (2020), rather than the original development study alone. It is a threshold for further assessment, not a measure of immediate medical safety. The combined online format and added response options should not be assumed to have the same accuracy as either instrument in its original research setting.
References
- Morgan JF, Reid F, Lacey JH. The SCOFF questionnaire: assessment of a new screening tool for eating disorders. BMJ. 1999;319(7223):1467-1468.
- Gideon N, Hawkes N, Mond J, Saunders R, Tchanturia K, Serpell L. Development and psychometric validation of the EDE-QS, a 12 item short form of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). PLoS ONE. 2016;11(5):e0152744.
- Hill LS, Reid F, Morgan JF, Lacey JH. SCOFF, the development of an eating disorder screening questionnaire. Int J Eat Disord. 2010;43(4):344-351.
- Botella J, Sepúlveda AR, Huang H, Gambara H. A meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of the SCOFF. Span J Psychol. 2013;16:E92.
- Prnjak K, Mitchison D, Griffiths S, Mond J, Gideon N, Serpell L, Hay P. Further development of the 12-item EDE-QS: identifying a cut-off for screening purposes. BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20:146. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7118929/
- National Institute of Mental Health. Eating Disorders: What You Need to Know. nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Eating disorders: recognition and treatment. Recommendations on physical health assessment and monitoring. nice.org.uk/guidance/NG69/chapter/recommendations
Cite this source
Psychology.com. (2026, September 16). Eating Disorder Test. Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/tests/eating-disorder
Eating Disorder Test FAQ
What instruments does this eating disorder test use?
Two validated ones, in sequence. First the SCOFF, a brief five-question screen widely used by clinicians as a first step. Then the EDE-QS, a 12-question short form of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire that measures how severe things have been over the past 7 days. Together they tell you whether a concern is flagged and how intense it currently is. Both are screening tools, not a diagnosis.
What scores suggest an eating concern?
On the SCOFF, answering yes to two or more of the five questions is the validated positive-screen threshold. On the EDE-QS, a score of 15 or more out of 36 suggests a clinically significant eating problem. Either result on its own is enough reason to talk things through with a professional, and scores below the thresholds do not rule a problem out.
What if my two results disagree?
That happens, and both still matter. The SCOFF asks about a broader recent period while the EDE-QS covers only the past 7 days, so a quieter week can lower your severity score even when the screen is positive. If you answered yes to two or more SCOFF questions, treat that as a meaningful signal regardless of your EDE-QS number.
Does this test detect all eating disorders?
No. The SCOFF was developed mainly to screen for anorexia and bulimia, and the EDE-QS measures attitudes and behaviors most typical of those patterns plus binge eating. Some presentations, such as ARFID, are not well captured, so a low score is not a clean bill of health if you are struggling.
Is this test a diagnosis?
No. It is for education and self-reflection only. Only a licensed clinician can diagnose an eating disorder. If your results or your relationship with food concern you, please reach out for support. A clinician also asks about your eating history, physical health, and how symptoms affect daily life. Bring examples of concerns even if your score is below a screening threshold.
Is the test really confidential?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser. Your individual answers are scored in your browser and are never sent to us or linked to you. They stay in this tab so you can return to your result, and closing or clearing the tab clears them. If you ask us to email the PDF, we receive your summary scores with your email address, never your individual answers. No account is needed.
Can eating disorders be treated?
Yes. Eating disorders are serious but treatable, and recovery is possible at any stage. Evidence-based therapy, medical care, and nutritional support help most people, and earlier help tends to make recovery easier. A primary care appointment can help assess physical health and arrange specialist support. The care plan should address your particular eating patterns, medical needs, and emotional distress.
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