Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26)

Age: _____ Current Weight: ______ Highest weight (excluding

pregnancy): _____
Sex: _____
Height: _____ Lowest Adult Weight: ______ Ideal Weight: ______

9 Please choose one response by marking a Always Usually Often Some Rarely Never Score
times
check to the right for each of the following
statements:
1. Am terrified about being overweight. _ _ _ _ _ _
2. Avoid eating when I am hungry. _ _ _ _ _ _
3. Find myself preoccupied with food. _ _ _ _ _ _
4. Have gone on eating binges where I feel that I
_ _ _ _ _ _
may not be able to stop.
5. Cut my food into small pieces. _ _ _ _ _ _
6. Aware of the calorie content of foods that I eat. _ _ _ _ _ _
7. Particularly avoid food with a high carbohydrate
_ _ _ _ _ _
content (i.e. bread, rice, potatoes, etc.)
8. Feel that others would prefer if I ate more. _ _ _ _ _ _
9. Vomit after I have eaten. _ _ _ _ _ _
10. Feel extremely guilty after eating. _ _ _ _ _ _
11. Am preoccupied with a desire to be thinner. _ _ _ _ _ _
12. Think about burning up calories when I exercise. _ _ _ _ _ _
13. Other people think that I am too thin. _ _ _ _ _ _
14. Am preoccupied with the thought of having fat on
_ _ _ _ _ _
my body.
15. Take longer than others to eat my meals. _ _ _ _ _ _
16. Avoid foods with sugar in them. _ _ _ _ _ _
17. Eat diet foods. _ _ _ _ _ _
18. Feel that food controls my life. _ _ _ _ _ _
19. Display self-control around food. _ _ _ _ _ _
20. Feel that others pressure me to eat. _ _ _ _ _ _
21. Give too much time and thought to food. _ _ _ _ _ _
22. Feel uncomfortable after eating sweets. _ _ _ _ _ _
23. Engage in dieting behavior. _ _ _ _ _ _
24. Like my stomach to be empty. _ _ _ _ _ _
25. Have the impulse to vomit after meals. _ _ _ _ _ _
26. Enjoy trying new rich foods. _ _ _ _ _ _
Total Score =
Behavioral Questions:
In the past 6 months have you: Yes No
A. Gone on eating binges where you feel that you may not be able to stop? (Eating
much more than most people would eat under the same circumstances)
If you answered yes, how often during the worst week: ____________________
B. Ever made yourself sick (vomited) to control your weight or shape?
If you answered yes, how often during the worst week: ____________________
C. Ever used laxatives, diet pills or diuretics (water pills) to control your weight or shape?
If you answered yes, how often during the worst week? ____________________
D. Ever been treated for an eating disorder? When: ___________________________

EAT-26 From: Garner et al. 1982, Psychological Medicine, 12, 871-878); adapted by D. Garner with permission.
Note: For more information on the EAT-26, see: www.river-centre.org

SCORING THE EATING ATTITUDES TEST (EAT-26)

Follow the 5 steps below:

Step 1:
EAT-26 ITEM SCORING: Significantly Underweight According
Score each item as indicated below to Height
and put score in box to the right of (Body Mass Index of 18)*
each item
Height Weight Height Weight
Items # 1-25: Item #26 only: (inches) (pounds) (inches) (pounds)
58 86 68 118
Always = 3 = 0 58 _ 88 68 _ 120
Usually = 2 = 0 59 89 69 121
Often = 1 = 0 59 _ 90 69 _ 124
Sometimes = 0 = 1 60 91 70 125
Rarely = 0 = 2 60 _ 93 70 _ 127
Never = 0 = 3 61 95 71 128
61 _ 96 71 _ 131
Step 2: Total EAT-26 Score 62 99 72 132
62 _ 100 72 _ 134
Total = 63 101 73 135
Add item scores together 63 _ 103 73 _ 138
for a Total EAT-26 score: 64 105 74 140
64 _ 106 74 _ 141
Step 3: Behavioral Questions 65 108 75 144
65 _ 109 75 _ 146
Yes 66 112 76 147
Did you score Yes on 66 _ 113 76 _ 149
Questions A, B, C or D? 67 114 77 152
67 _ 117 77 _ 154

Step 4: Underweight * Note: The table above indicates the body weights
for heights considered to be significantly
Determine if you are significantly underweight according to a Body Mass Index
underweight according to the table (BMI) of 18. BMI is a simple method of evaluating
to the right body weight taking height into consideration. It
applies to both men and women. There is some
controversy regarding whether or not BMI is the
Step 5: Referral No Yes best method of determining relative body weight and
it is important to recognize that it is possible for
If your EAT-26 score is 20 someone to be quite malnourished even though they
or more are above the weight listed in the table. In order to
determine if you are significantly underweight,
or if you answered YES to locate your height (without shoes) on the table and
any questions A-D see if the corresponding body weight (in light indoor
clothing) is below that listed. If so, you are
or if your weight is below considered significantly underweight and should
the number on the weight speak to your physician or therapist about your
chart to the right, weight. To Calculate Body Mass Index (BMI)
exactly: Weight (pounds) Divided by Height in
Please discuss your results with your Inches; Divide this again by Height in Inches and
physician or therapist Multiply by 703
BMI = (lbs) (inches) (inches) X 703