Body Image Questionnaire

Are you in danger?

The following questionnaire can help you decide if you have an eating disorder or if you are at risk of developing one. Circle the numbers of the items that describe you and then, read the paragraph at the end.

1. Even though people tell me I'm thin, I feel fat.
2. I get anxious if I can't exercise.
3. I want to be thinner than my friends.
4. I worry about what I will eat.
5. If I gain weight, I get anxious and depressed.
6. I would rather eat by myself than with family and friends.
7. Other people talk about the way I eat.
8. I get anxious when people urge me to eat.
9. I don't talk much about my fear of being fat because no one understands how I feel.
10. I enjoy cooking dinner for others, but I usually don't eat what I have cooked.
11. I have a secret stash of food.
12. When I eat, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop.
13. I lie about what I eat.
14. I don't like to be bothered or interrupted when I eat.
15. If I were thinner, I would like myself better.
16. I like to read recipes, cookbooks, calorie charts, and books about dieting and exercise.
17. I have missed work or school because of my weight or eating habits.
18. I tend to be depressed and irritable.
19. I avoid some people because they bug me about the way I eat.
20. When I eat, I feel bloated and fat.
21. I have said or thought: "I would rather die than be fat."
22. I have stolen food, laxatives or diet pills from other people.
23. I have fasted to lose weight.
24. It is rare that I am satisfied with myself.

As strange as it seems in our thin-obsessed society, none of the above behaviors is normal or healthy. The more items you have circled, the more serious your problem may be. Use this questionnaire as a way to begin the conversation with a physician, qualified professional or even a friend.

Adapted from: Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. (www.anred.com)