Test to determine the type of eating behavior. The food attitude test is the most well-known test for bulimia. Anorexia test

Description of the technique

The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) is a screening test developed by the Clark Institute of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto in 1979[.

The scale was originally designed to screen for anorexia nervosa and consisted of 40 questions. In 1982, the developers modified it and created the EAT-26 scale, consisting of 26 questions. The EAT-26 scale showed a high degree of correlation with the original version. Subsequently, the EAT-26 scale has become widely used in screening for both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

The EAT-26 scale is currently the most widely used tool in the study of eating disorders.

Theoretical basis

The scale, like most of its kind, includes symptoms that are considered abnormal in relation to eating behavior. Symptoms are related to the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional domains, but no subscales are identified on the test.

Internal structure

The EAT-26 test consists of 26 questions. Each question has the following response options: never, rarely, sometimes, quite often, usually, or always. When answering 5 additional questions, the subject chooses one of two answer options - “yes” or “no”. Sometimes the test includes 5 more additional questions that have “yes” and “no” answer options.

Procedure

The test is intended to be completed by the patient/subject himself, the specialist should not participate in this. Before starting the study, it is recommended to familiarize the subject with the principles of working with the scale.

Interpretation

All test questions, with the exception of the 26th, are scored as follows: "always" - 3; "as a rule" - 2; "quite often" - 1; "sometimes" - 0; "rarely" - 0; "never" - 0. The 26th question is evaluated as follows: "always" - 0; "usually" - 0; "quite often" - 0; "sometimes" - 1; "rarely" - 2; "never" - 3. Points for all items are summed up and calculated total score. Additional information can provide a meaningful analysis of the responses to each question.

Clinical relevance

The EAT-26 test is a screening test; on its basis it is impossible to make a diagnosis, even a preliminary one, but a high score on it means a high probability of having a serious eating disorder - presumably anorexia or bulimia (the test was created to identify these disorders). Meanwhile, a number of items are specific to some other eating disorders - for example, restrictive, compulsive, etc. Thus, the test allows you to identify a "risk group" that needs the advice of a mental health specialist, although it does not cover all eating disorders considered today.

Anorexia and bulimia are the most common eating disorders today. Patients suffering from anorexia experience a pathological desire to lose weight, which is why they refuse to eat. The death rate from anorexia is extremely high.

With bulimia, the patient experiences an irresistible craving for food, resulting in bouts of overeating, followed by vomiting or taking a laxative.

Despite their apparent differences, both of these eating disorders have a similar psychological nature. Therefore, for their diagnosis, the same questionnaire is used - the Eating Attitudes Test (in the original - Eating Attitudes Test, EAT).

This test for bulimia and anorexia was developed in Canada (Toronto) at the Clark Institute of Psychiatry in 1979.

The original version of the EAT test was used for a mass survey of risk groups in order to detect anorexia nervosa. It contained 40 test questions. Further deepening of knowledge in the field of the psychology of eating disorders made it possible to shorten the test and make it more reliable. The version, improved in 1982, contains 26 questions and is accordingly named EAT-26. It is also used today.

The EAT-26 test allows you to diagnose both bulimia and bulimia with high accuracy. It is easy to use and suitable for self-diagnosis.

The food attitude test consists of a main part containing 26 questions and an additional part with 5 questions. The main questions contain 6 response options, divided by the frequency of the described behavior or situation. Additional questions provide only “yes” and “no” answers. The answer form is completely filled in by the respondent, the participation of a specialist is not required. Before starting the test, the subject must be familiar with the testing methodology.

The EAT-26 test provides the following criteria for identifying eating disorders:

• low body mass index in comparison with the average age norm,
• weight loss or characteristic patterns of behavior in the last 6 months (based on the results of answers to an additional group of questions),
• results of answers to the main group of tests of the questionnaire.

The diagnostics also uses information obtained from relatives and friends of the subject or from competent medical professionals.

EAT-26 is used for active initial diagnosis eating disorders. Its effectiveness is high when working with target risk groups - students of schools, colleges, universities and other risk groups (for example, professional athletes). Early diagnosis of eating disorders allows early treatment to prevent further development. serious complications or even death.

The reliability of the EAT-26 test results has been confirmed by a number of studies. However, the diagnosis of anorexia or bulimia cannot be established from the test results alone. It allows you to identify typical for people with eating disorders psychological features and behavioral patterns.

A large number of points in the test results (above 20) indicates the presence of concern about the level of one's weight. This does not mean the need for an urgent start of treatment or the presence of a threat to life. However, specialist advice (psychologist or psychiatrist) for people with high scores in the test results is desirable. The doctor will conduct an additional examination to establish an accurate diagnosis, determine the presence of a real threat to health and, if necessary, advise methods of correction.

There are almost no girls and women who are satisfied with their figure - this is an axiom.

But for some of us, this dissatisfaction turns into a manic desire to lose weight.

At any cost: a starvation diet, many hours of physical exercise, the fear of eating, so as not to get better and not go astray to the ideal - a figure like a concentration camp victim ...

And even when everyone around you says that you are slim, you have one phrase in your head: I am fat, I need to lose weight. And it's not just fear. This mental disorder-, the plague of the XXI century!

Unfortunately, in our time, every second girl is in the iron grip of this disease, sometimes not realizing it, and sometimes simply afraid to seek help. Answer "yes" or "no" to each item of the test. Be frank. Remember, there is no point in lying to yourself.

Anorexia Test

1. You are unhappy with your own weight. You are constantly haunted by the desire to lose weight. Even if your weight is normal or below normal, you still think that you are fat. Calculating normal weight is very simple: subtract 110 from your height in centimeters. The number that you get will be the ideal weight for you.

2. You are sure that you are fat, although others say that you are not.

3. Excessively fond of physical exercises. For example, you can get up at night to pump the press, jump rope or go for a run.

4. Constantly weigh yourself and count calories.

5. You are sometimes attacked by bouts of wolfish appetite. After another overeating, you artificially induce vomiting or take a laxative.

6. There are significant fluctuations in body weight: three or more kilograms per month.

7. You often buy in the store a large number of harmful and high-calorie foods that you often deny yourself in order to use them all, knowing in advance that everything will end up in the toilet.

8. Regularly take laxatives, diuretics and emetics.

9. You feel constant apathy, sadness, depression, and sleep disturbance.

10. You tend to abrupt change moods: irritability and sadness, then euphoria, gaiety, which are replaced by crying, hysteria. And this is not related to the events in your life (for example, a quarrel with a loved one).

11. Reduced activity, not characteristic of your nature. If earlier you were easy-going, diversified your leisure time, were interested in cinema, theater, etc., now everything suddenly became indifferent to you. I don’t want to go anywhere, I don’t want to meet anyone, nothing arouses interest, except for the thought of how to lose weight.

12. You avoid being present at collective feasts, events and celebrations where eating is inevitable.

13. After each meal, look at yourself in the mirror for a long time or go to the bathroom to induce vomiting.

14. Suddenly addicted to topics related to food: you suddenly have
interest in cooking, collecting recipes, cookbooks. You cook gourmet meals and organize sumptuous meals for relatives and friends, but you don't participate in the meal yourself.

15. Suddenly there was a desire to become a vegetarian, but this is not due to the fact that you feel sorry for the animals - you did not refuse leather handbags, clothes and shoes. Ask yourself if you are hiding under the mask of vegetarianism your desire to lose weight by refusing animal food.

16. You experience a panic fear of getting fat from every bite you eat or drink, even low-calorie foods.

17. Feel guilty after every meal. And the first thought after eating is how to get rid of the calories received.

18. You stop communicating with friends and relatives, you experience an internal inexplicable fear, anxiety. You think that no one needs you, and you are ironically sure that this is due to the fact that you are fat. Although this is not true at all...

If you answered “yes” more than twice, immediately contact a specialist: a psychologist or psychiatrist. It is simply necessary to consult a doctor and find a way out of a difficult situation. After all, if the disease progresses, it will be more and more difficult to get you out of this state. Throw away the false sense of shame: believe me, every person has personal problems and mental illnesses.

If you are going to ignore this advice, read what causes excessive weight loss:

1. Disorders of the cardiovascular system - fainting, dizziness, constant feeling of cold, slow pulse, low blood pressure.

2. Dryness and pallor of the skin, sallow complexion.

3. Hair loss, the appearance of small hair on the face and back, violation of the structure of the nails.

4. Disorders of the digestive system - convulsive pains in the stomach, chronic constipation, nausea, edema of the abdominal cavity.

5. Lack of thyroid hormones and slow metabolism.

6. Cessation of menstruation, inability to conceive.

7. Osteoporosis and frequent, painful bone fractures.

8. Reducing the mass of the brain.

9. Decreased libido or loss of sex drive.
10. Depression.

11. constant anxiety, inability to focus.

12. Ideas about suicide.

paradox, but most often the cause of anorexia is the reproaches of relatives and friends, whose opinion is archival for the patient. Offensive remarks from a boyfriend or husband: “You are fat as a barrel”, “Fat hangs down”, “You need to eat less”, “It would be nice for you to lose weight”, “Just don’t get fat”, “If you get fat, I’ll quit”, which often accompanied by checking the press, counting the wrinkles on the stomach or unpleasant tweaks ... All this is excellent ground for anorexia!

Other causes of the disease:
- Low self-esteem, feelings of inferiority.
- Self-doubt and fear of not meeting fashion standards of beauty
- Stay in society (work team, family, circle of friends), where thinness is the standard.
- stressful events: constant quarrels, family conflicts, death of a loved one, parting with a loved one, betrayal, physical abuse and more.
- A defensive reaction, a way of protesting against any injustice or violence.
- Hereditary predisposition - the presence of a relative suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia or obesity, depression, alcohol or drug addiction.

It is important to know! It is impossible to cure a disease without removing the cause. Try to find it yourself, but better with the help of a psychologist. And remember: you are alone, and mock own body for someone else is stupid. No one will appreciate your sacrifice anyway. In addition, a man needs a healthy and self-confident woman who can give birth to his child. And he is unlikely to want to connect his life with a nervous anorexic.