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Do I Have an Eating Disorder?

Find out if you experience symptoms of a clinical eating disorder.

Do you ever feel like you have an unhealthy relationship with food, or have you ever gone to extreme measures (beyond minor diet adjustments) to lose weight and change your appearance? If so, you might be struggling with a clinical eating disorder.

Clinical eating disorders (like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) are serious health conditions that are defined by unhealthy and dangerous lifestyle habits. It can be hard to take that first step to address your own eating habits, but you’re doing the right thing. Hit “Start Quiz” to get a better understanding of what you’re currently going through, and, most importantly, what you can do if you think you might have an eating disorder. We’ve included plenty of expert-backed advice so you can make the best, most informed decision for yourself and your well-being in the future.

Disclaimer: This quiz is not a diagnostic tool and should not be used as a replacement for professional medical guidance. Visit with a healthcare and/or mental health professional right away if you’re concerned about your current physical and emotional well-being.

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Questions Overview

1. I frequently feel self-conscious about my weight.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
2. The idea of gaining a small amount of weight terrifies me.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
3. I use laxatives, self-induced vomiting, and enemas to manage my weight.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
4. I skip meals or won’t eat for long periods to help manage my weight.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
5. I think about eating almost constantly.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
6. I avoid certain foods because I can’t stand their consistency or texture.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
7. I don’t like eating around other people and avoid doing so at all costs.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
8. I often eat large amounts at a time and continue to eat even after I’m full.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
9. I constantly try new diets and exercise plans because I’m concerned about my weight.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
10. I force myself to eat less than 1200 calories most days so I won’t gain weight.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
11. My weight and body shape are the top priority in my life above all else.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
12. I lie to others when they ask me about my eating habits.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
13. I think I stress a lot more about my weight and body image a lot more than other people in my age range.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
14. Eating makes me feel really guilty.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
15. Other people tend to comment on my unusual eating habits.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Partially agree
  3. Partially disagree
  4. Strongly disagree

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The Dangerous World of Eating Disorders

What are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are types of illnesses that affect a person’s relationship with food and their perception of their own body. They’re often characterized by harmful eating habits, like severe calorie restriction, binging (eating a lot of food in one sitting), self-induced vomiting, and/or using laxatives excessively.

Common Myths About Eating Disorders

  • Myth: Clinical eating disorders are a lifestyle choice.

Truth: Nobody chooses to have an eating disorder. They’re serious and complicated illnesses that develop due to multiple factors, including a person’s environment and genetics. People with clinical eating disorders also tend to experience other mental health struggles, like OCD, depression, and anxiety.

  • Myth: Clinical eating disorders aren’t that dangerous.

Truth: Clinical eating disorders are extremely dangerous and claim more lives than any other mental illness (except for opiate addiction).

  • Myth: Most people have some kind of eating disorder.

Truth: Plenty of people have less than healthy eating habits, but not nearly as many have a clinical eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia. According to some statistics, about 9% of Americans experience some type of eating disorder in their lives.

  • Myth: Only women develop eating disorders.

Truth: People of all gender identities can and have experienced eating disorders—it isn’t exclusive to a single group of people. Eating disorders are an issue for people of all backgrounds, especially individuals who identify as transgender or non-binary.

  • Myth: It takes years and years to get over an eating disorder.

Truth: Recovering from an eating disorder isn’t a cut-and-dry process. Many things can impact a person’s ability to get better, including their physical condition, their desire to get better, the treatment they’re receiving, and more. While eating disorders can take years to recover from, this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule.

Common Types of Clinical Eating Disorders

  • Anorexia: An eating disorder characterized by severe calorie restriction and starvation. People with anorexia have extremely unrealistic and unhealthy perceptions of their body and self-image and are petrified of gaining more weight.
  • Bulimia: An eating disorder characterized by periods of bingeing (eating a large amount of food in a small amount of time) and purging (getting rid of food through methods like taking laxatives or throwing up).
  • Binge-eating disorder: An eating disorder characterized by the need to eat large amounts of food in one sitting, with the affected person often feeling unable to stop eating.
  • Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: An eating disorder characterized by major dietary restrictions due to specific food preferences, interests, aversions, and anxiety.

Clinical Eating Disorder Symptoms
Clinical eating disorders have a variety of different symptoms and warning signs—it really depends on the individual. Symptoms may include:

  • Extreme dieting and restricted eating
  • Severe thinness
  • A deep fear of weight gain
  • A distorted self-image
  • Sore, swollen throat
  • Tooth decay
  • GI issues
  • Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
  • Overeating
  • Eating large portions of food
  • Using laxatives or self-induced vomiting to manage weight

How do you treat a clinical eating disorder?
Visit a doctor or mental health professional. One of the hardest parts of living with an eating disorder is asking for help—but you don’t have to struggle alone. Trained healthcare and mental professionals can help you take the necessary steps to heal and recover from your clinical eating disorder. Some great people to speak to include psychologists and registered dieticians.

Important Helplines

  • The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness Helpline: 1-866-662-1235
  • The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders Helpline: 1-888-375-7767
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline: 1-800-950-6264
  • International Helplines: Search here.

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Any medically related content, whether User Content or otherwise found on the Service, is not intended to be medical advice or instructions for medical diagnosis or treatment, and no physician-patient or psychotherapist-patient relationship is, or is intended to be, created.

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    Feb 15

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