Here is an eating disorder quiz, a sort of self test for anorexia or bulimia. It is important to understand, though, that no eating disorder quiz can tell you for sure if you have an eating disorder. If you think you might have an eating disorder, you should seek an assessment with a qualified health care provider (either a medical doctor or a mental health care provider, both with experience and training in dealing with eating disorders) for an accurate diagnosis. This test for anorexia or bulimia will give you an indication of whether or not you might have a problem, however.
In order for this test to be accurate, of course, you need to be completely honest in your answer. You may find it hard to admit that you have a problem, so you may be tempted to fudge on the answers a bit. Don’t do it. Denial will not help you get the help that you need.
Ask yourself the following questions to take this eating disorder quiz.
- Are your eating habits different from those of your family and friends?
- Do you prefer to eat alone or where no one can see you?
- Do you make excuses, such as saying that you’ve already eaten or that you’re not hungry, so you will not have to eat with family or friends?
- Do you lie about how much you’ve eaten?
- Are there times when you eat uncontrollably?
- Do you ever make yourself vomit after eating?
- Do you ever use laxatives or diuretics to avoid gaining weight?
- Do you feel angry or annoyed when others encourage you to eat more?
- Do you enjoy cooking gourmet meals or high-calorie foods for others that you will not eat yourself?
- Do you feel fat even though others tell you that you are thin?
- Do you spend a lot of time reading books or magazines about dieting, exercising, fitness, and counting calories?
- Do you panic if you get on the scale and find out you’ve gained weight?
- Do you have an overwhelming fear of gaining weight?
- Are you obsessed with your weight and/or appearance?
- Are you only satisfied if you are thinner than all your friends?
- Do you have low self-esteem (do you generally feel good about yourself)?
- Do you consider yourself a perfectionist?
- (For females only) Has your menstrual period stopped, or do you have irregular periods for no known medical reason?
If you’ve answered yes to two or more questions on this eating disorder quiz, you may have an eating disorder. Or, you may not actually have anorexia or bulimia, but you may have what is known as pathological eating. That means that you have some symptoms of an eating disorder even though you don’t meet the full criteria for the disorder.
Remember that this is not a specific test for anorexia or bulimia, but a generalized eating disorder quiz. A professional can ask you more specific questions to determine if you do indeed have an eating disorder and, if so, what type of disorder you have.
You can take your answers to this test for anorexia or bulimia with you when you go for a professional assessment. Your answers can help the professional in making a diagnosis.
You should also ask yourself what made you interested in taking a test for anorexia or bulimia. It would seem that you already have some concerns about your eating habits, which may well be warranted.