Eating disorders are complicated, nuanced and each completely unique. In media we often see examples of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, specifically a white woman obsessed with thinness for appearance sake. In reality, eating disorders exist in all body shapes and sizes and driven by emotions, a desire for control, etc..
The one common denominator amongst eating disorders is that the behaviors and thoughts around food and body image are detrimental to the individuals physical and mental health. If you or a loved one feel your relationship with food is becoming harmful to your well being, keep reading.
Who is this disordered eating quiz for?
This quiz is for the woman who’s been on and off diets since her mom took her to weight watchers as a preteen.
This quiz is for the man who panics when he can’t have his full time at the gym.
This quiz is for the woman who’s family and friends keep expressing concern about their eating habits.
This quiz is for the woman who won’t be happy until she hits her goal weight, but the goal weight keeps dropping.
This quiz is for the woman who has to weigh her self everyday because she’s terrified to gaining weight.
This quiz is for the man who can’t eat his favorite food without eating to the point of feeling uncomfortably full then guilty afterward.
This quiz is for the woman who hides the evidence of her eating from her family. Not because of what they’ll think, but she’s feeling embarrassed.
And finally, this quiz is for anyone and everyone who feels anxiety around food and their body.
How accurate is this disordered eating test?
This is not a diagnostic tool, but it can help you determine if you need professional help from a dietitian and/or therapist. We’ll go through behaviors and/or thought patterns that are signs of an unhealthy relationship with food, exercise and your body. This quiz is not meant to give a clinical diagnosis. But, it is meant to help you recognize behaviors in yourself.
Many of these may sound like common dieting behaviors. That’s because diet culture has normalized disorders. Just because you know a lot of people who do a behavior, doesn’t mean it doesn’t come from eating disorder behaviors.
So what is disordered eating vs an eating disorder? Well, disordered eating is when your behaviors around food, eating, exercise and body image are damaging to your well being. Eating disorders are diagnosed mental health conditions within the DSM-IV, but not all people who engage in disordered eating behaviors meet criteria for these diagnoses. Does that mean you should keep going until you might eventually meet the criteria and only then seek professional help? No. You should seek help from trained professionals whenever eating, exercise and body image start to interfere with your mental health.
Take our free “is this disordered eating” test
Below is a list of some common symptoms of disordered eating. If any of these are “true” for you, even if it’s only one or two, reach out to Jill Gulotta Nutrition to learn how we can help you develop a healthier relationship with food and your body shape.
Weighing myself is anxiety inducing and the number on the scale impacts my mental well-being.
I exercise to make up for eating foods I enjoy.
I eat more/less when I’m with other people so they don’t worry about or judge my eating habits.
I’m usually either on a strict diet, actively trying to lose weight, or eating large amounts and avoiding scales and mirrors.
My emotions motivate my eating.
If I cannot follow my diet, I’m out of control and will spiral.
I’m terrified of weight gain.
Certain foods are only allowed when I’m on vacation, drunk, or “earned” them.
If I eat until I’m full I’ll feel fat.
I idolize and admire people who are very strict about their diets, even if the have an eating disorder.
My worth is directly related to my body size.
I do my best to ignore it when I’m feeling physically hungry.
I’m embarrassed about the amount of food I eat, even if I’m still hungry when I’m done eating.
A family member and/or a loved one has expressed concern about my eating habits.
I have to eat less than my loved one, even if I’m still hungry.
I think about my weight throughout the day even thought I’m busy with work/family/life.
I ban entire food groups to lose weight. When I let myself have these foods, I eat large amounts until I feel physically unwell.
I think about eating, or not eating, almost constantly.
When I’m full or eat foods I enjoy, I feel fat and feel guilty.
I look in the mirror constantly to critique my appearance.
I avoid looking in the mirror due to disliking my body shape.
Comparing myself to others (body shape, exercise behaviors, eating habits, etc.) is constant and critical to maintaining control over my body.
If I don’t exercise until I’m exhausted, it didn’t count and I have to limit what I eat.
Interpreting your results
If any of the statements above sound similar to behaviors or thoughts you have then you may be engaging in disordered eating. This is not a diagnostic tool, so saying yes to any of these statements does not mean you have an eating disorder. However, it is a sign that your relationship with food, exercise and/or your body image is detrimental to your mental health.
Even if you only said yes to one or a few of these statements, that is still a huge mental burden for you to deal with. While it might feel like everyone lives this way because diet culture is so pervasive, that isn’t true. You don’t have to live with this burden.
Get support for eating disorder symptoms
The first step is seeking help. Not all dietitians and therapists fully understand how to work with eating disorders or disordered eating behaviors, so it’s important to find someone who specializes in this kind of work.
Jill Gulotta Nutrition is a practice of dietitians who specialize in helping people with eating disorders or disordered eating behaviors work towards a healthier relationship with foods and their body. When you reach out, you’ll be paired with a dietitian who will help you find the solutions specific to you.
