The accuracy of eating disorder tests.
Eating disorders are a serious problem in the United States. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives. And, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS).
Anorexia nervosa is defined as a refusal to maintain a healthy body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image. Bulimia nervosa is defined as a cycle of bingeing and purging. Bingeing is defined as eating a large amount of food in a short period of time, and purging is defined as vomiting, using laxatives, or exercising excessively to rid the body of the calories consumed during the binge. Binge eating disorder is defined as eating large amounts of food in a short period of time and feeling out of control during the binge, but not purging. EDNOS is defined as an eating disorder that does not meet the criteria for anorexia or bulimia, but still causes distress and interferes with daily life.
There are many different types of eating disorder tests, but the most common are the Minnesota Starvation Experiment, the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
The Minnesota Starvation Experiment was a study conducted on 32 men who were willing to be starved for six months in order to learn about the effects of starvation. The men were divided into two groups, one of which was fed a normal diet and one of which was fed a starvation diet. The men on the starvation diet lost an average of 24 pounds, and their physical and mental health deteriorated significantly. The experiment showed that eating disorders are not simply a matter of will power, but are a complex combination of physical and psychological factors.
The EAT is a 40-item self-report questionnaire that is used to assess the risk for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The test includes items such as, “I am terrified about gaining weight,” and “I have gone on eating binges where I feel I could not stop even if I wanted to.” A person’s total score on the EAT can range from 0 to 120, and a score of 20 or above indicates a risk for anorexia or bulimia.
The BDI is a 21-item self-report questionnaire that is used to assess the severity of depression. The test includes items such as, “I feel hopeless about the future,” and “I have been so anxious or nervous that I have had difficulty sleeping.” A person’s total score on the BDI can range from 0 to 63, and a score of 14 or above indicates a need for further evaluation by a mental health professional.
There are many different types of eating disorder tests, and each has its own strengths and limitations. The Minnesota Starvation Experiment is the most well-known and researched of the eating disorder tests, but it has a very small sample size and is not representative of the general population. The EAT is a widely used and validated test, but it only assesses the risk for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and does not assess the risk for other types of eating disorders. The BDI is a widely used and validated test, but it only assesses the severity of depression, and not the severity of an eating disorder.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, there are many resources available to help. The National Eating Disorders Association website provides information on finding treatment, support groups, and prevention programs..View now
A review of the eating disorder testing instruments currently available.
The most common eating disorder testing instruments used to assess for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other eating disorders are the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and the Purging and Nonpurging Inventory for Bulimia (PNI-B).
The EDI is a self-report measure that consists of 91 items that assess a range of psychological factors associated with eating disorders, such as body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, dietary restraint, and bulimic symptoms. The EAT is a similar self-report measure that assesses attitudes and behaviors related to anorexia and bulimia. The PNI-B is a measure of purging and nonpurging compensatory behaviors used to counter the effects of binge eating.
Other less commonly used eating disorder testing instruments include the Diagnostic Interview for Anorexia and Bulimia (DIAB), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS).
The DIAB is a structured interview that can be used to diagnose anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The HAM-A is a scale used to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms. The Y-BOCS is a scale used to assess the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
Eating disorder testing instruments are useful for diagnosing and assessing the severity of eating disorders. However, they have some limitations. For example, they are often reliant on self-report, which can be biased. Additionally, they may not be able to assess for all types of eating disorders, such as binge eating disorder.
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