Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) — Nutrition and Diet Screening for Disordered Eating
Likert-scale questionnaire to screen for disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.
The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) is a widely used, validated Likert-scale questionnaire designed to screen for disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. This Nutrition and Diet screening tool helps identify patterns such as dieting preoccupation, food avoidance, bingeing tendencies, and unhealthy weight-control behaviors. Completing the EAT-26 can provide a quick, evidence-informed snapshot of your current eating attitudes to help you decide whether to seek further professional evaluation.
This online EAT-26 quiz contains 26 questions reflecting common thoughts, feelings, and actions around food and body image. It is optimized for clarity and ease of use: answer each item based on how you have felt and behaved over the past six months. Results are scored to highlight possible disordered eating risk. If your score meets or exceeds the screening threshold, consider consulting a registered dietitian, primary care provider, or mental health professional who specializes in eating disorders. Use this tool as a screening—not a diagnosis—and as a prompt for seeking help if needed.
I am terrified about being overweight.
Answer based on how you have felt over the past 6 months.
I avoid eating when I am hungry.
Consider times when you consciously restrict food despite hunger.
I find myself preoccupied with food.
Thoughts about food that interfere with daily life.
I think about burning up calories when I exercise.
Associating exercise primarily with calorie burning or weight control.
I am preoccupied with a desire to be thinner.
Persistent desire that affects self-image or decisions.
I engage in dieting behavior (restricting calories) to control my weight.
Intentional calorie restriction or cutting out food groups.
I find myself eating more when I am upset or stressed.
Emotional eating or loss of control when distressed.
I feel that others would prefer if I ate less.
Perceived social pressure to eat less or be thinner.
I engage in secretive eating or hide my eating from others.
Hiding food or eating in secret to avoid judgment.
I feel uncomfortable after eating because I think I may have eaten too much.
Guilt or distress after meals linked to quantity eaten.
I cut my food into small pieces or chew a long time to avoid finishing a meal.
Rituals or behaviors intended to control intake.
I am preoccupied with calories and food content (fat, sugar).
Excessive focus on calorie counts or nutrients to control weight.
I engage in self-induced vomiting, laxative use, or other purging to control weight.
Any use of purging or weight control methods after eating.
I am preoccupied with the idea that I should be an ideal weight.
Persistent beliefs about an ideal body size affecting behavior.
I use diet pills, herbal supplements, or other non-prescribed substances to lose weight.
Use of chemical or supplement-based weight control.
I feel that food controls me more than I control food.
Feelings of loss of control around eating.
I avoid eating when I'm with others because I don't want them to see how much I eat.
Social avoidance or anxiety related to eating in public.
I have thoughts about burning up excess calories after eating.
Compensatory thoughts or behaviors regarding calorie balance.
I think about trying to avoid foods with sugar or fat to control my weight.
Selective avoidance or fear of certain macronutrients.
I feel pressure from others to lose weight.
External pressure affecting eating or self-image.
I engage in rigid rules around eating (e.g., 'only eat X' or 'no food after Y time').
Strict dietary rules that limit flexibility and normal eating patterns.
I have been preoccupied with the thought of wanting to be thinner in the last 6 months.
Persistent preoccupation with thinness over recent months.
I check my body frequently (weight, shape, or certain parts) because I'm worried about my size.
Frequent body-checking behavior related to body image concerns.
I feel ashamed about my eating habits or body shape.
Shame or embarrassment tied to eating or appearance.
I deliberately eat slowly or avoid finishing food to limit intake.
Strategies used to reduce intake during meals.
My eating patterns interfere with my social life or daily functioning.
When eating behaviors disrupt work, relationships, or daily routines.
Frequently asked questions
The EAT-26 (Eating Attitudes Test) is a 26-item self-report questionnaire designed to screen for disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. It measures concerns with dieting, body image, food preoccupation, and behaviors like restrictive eating or purging. It is a screening tool and not a diagnostic instrument.
Each item uses a Likert-scale response with values that are summed to produce a total score (range 0–78). A commonly used cutoff is 20 or higher, which indicates possible clinical concern and the need for further evaluation by a health professional. Lower ranges indicate lower or moderate concern, but professional context matters.
No. The EAT-26 is a validated screening questionnaire but it cannot replace a clinical assessment. A high score suggests the need for further evaluation by a healthcare provider, such as a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or registered dietitian specialized in eating disorders.
If you are monitoring changes (for example, after starting therapy or nutritional counseling), retaking the screening every 4–8 weeks can help track progress. If you are using it for general self-checks, do so as needed or if your eating attitudes or behaviors change significantly.
If your score is 20 or higher, consider scheduling an appointment with a primary care provider or a mental health professional who specializes in eating disorders. They can perform a full clinical assessment and recommend appropriate treatment, which may include medical monitoring, nutritional counseling, and psychotherapy.
EAT-26 has been used across various age groups and genders, but interpretation should consider developmental stage and cultural context. For adolescents or children, results should be discussed with a pediatrician or mental health professional. Clinicians may use complementary assessments to ensure accurate interpretation.
This quiz is intended for self-screening and education. If you are using a third-party platform, review that platform's privacy policy. For clinical assessments, consult a healthcare provider who follows confidentiality and data-protection regulations.
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