Free "Do I Have an Eating Disorder" Quiz
Takeaway: Curious about whether you have an eating disorder? This test from eating disorder treatment specialist Brianna Halasa will help you understand common symptoms and offer resources for next steps.
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An eating disorder can be described as a disturbance in eating behavior and an impairment in physical and mental health. Common eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and avoidant and restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). While there are many commonalities that exist related to these eating disorders, such as having challenging feelings about food, eating, body image, body size, body shape, and weight, there are distinct differences. Please note that this quiz does not provide a diagnosis and is not a replacement for working with a mental health professional. However, it can give you a better idea to determine whether you may need additional support.
Do you think about food constantly?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Do you avoid certain or many foods?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Do you ignore signs of feeling physically hungry?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Do you often try new diets and exercise plans?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Do you feel guilty after eating?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Do you worry about your weight and gaining weight?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Do you skip meals or avoid eating for the day?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Do you restrict food or limit the number of calories you consume in a day?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Do you eat large amounts of food until feeling uncomfortably full?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Do you make yourself throw up, exercise excessively, and/or use diuretics or laxatives to control your weight?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Is it difficult for you to concentrate because you are thinking about food?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Do you dislike the way you look?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Are you afraid of weight gain?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Do you ever feel fat?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Does your weight fluctuate?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Have loved ones in your life made comments about your eating patterns?
A - frequently
B - sometimes
C - rarely
Interpreting your results
If you answered mostly A’s and B's, this might indicate that you are likely struggling with disordered eating. Therefore, it could be beneficial to reach out to myself or another trained mental health professional to understand more about your patterns and behaviors related to eating. This quiz is meant to give insight and guidance, not definitive answers as to whether you have an eating disorder.
FAQs about eating disorders
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While many people might be occasionally concerned about their health, weight, or appearance, some people can become overly concerned or obsessed with weight loss, body shape or image, and heavily control their food intake. These may be signs of an eating disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, 2024). Eating disorders exist across a variety of body types and all along the weight spectrum. Therefore, the most important thing is to seek help, even if you're not sure whether your symptoms or behaviors rise to the level of an eating disorder.
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In order to diagnose an eating disorder and decide the best course of treatment, a clinician will most likely ask some of the following questions (Academy for Eating Disorders, 2021):
Patient history, including screening questions about eating patterns
Questions about medical, nutritional, psychological, and social functioning
Thoughts, feelings, and actions related to food, eating, exercise, and appearance
Family history of mental health issues
Personal and family history of medical illnesses
Assessment of other mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, OCD, and/or ADHD
It is important to mention again that diagnoses can only be provided by a qualified professional, not online quizzes.
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Below is a list that depicts signs and symptoms of the most common eating disorders (National Institute of Mental Health, 2024). Please don't hesitate to reach out for help, even if you're not sure whether your signs and symptoms qualify as an eating disorder.
Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa:
Heavily restricted eating
Frequent over-exercise
Extreme thinness
Chasing thinness and inability to maintain a healthy weight
Intense fear of gaining weight
Distorted body image or self-image
Denial of the seriousness of low body weight
Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder:
Eating unusually large amounts of food in a short amount of time (ie: within two hours)
Eating rapidly during binge episodes
Eating even when full or not hungry
Eating until uncomfortably full
Eating alone or in secret to avoid embarrassment
Feeling distressed, ashamed, or guilty about eating
Dieting frequently (possibly without weight loss)
Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa:
Throwing up
Taking laxatives
Exercising excessively
Fasting
Getting support for your eating disorder
If you're questioning whether your relationship to your body and food is the healthiest, there are many resources that you can access to learn more about eating disorders and get help, such as the following:
Final thoughts
In this article, we touched on possible traits of eating disorders, their signs and symptoms, and how to begin the recovery journey. Both eating disorders and disordered eating can have significant negative consequences on your physical and mental health. Yet it's possible to start building a better relationship with your body so you can focus your energy on things that bring you joy and fulfillment. Please reach out to a clinician to address your specific needs and get more clarity on some of the issues touched upon in this article.
My name is Brianna Halasa, and I'm a psychotherapist licensed in both Ohio and New York. I work with clients addressing issues of trauma, disordered eating, self-esteem and body image. Together we can work towards addressing your goals in space where you feel seen, heard, and empowered. Don't hesitate to contact me if you're interested in a free 20-minute clarity call or would like to book your first session.
Citations
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Eating Disorders: What You Need to Know (NIMH Identifier No. 24-MH-4901). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved July 21, 2025, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders
Academy for Eating Disorders. (2021). AED Report 2021: Medical Care Standards Guide. Medical Care Standards Guide – Academy for Eating Disorders (4th ed). Available at: https://www.aedweb.org/publications/medical-care-standards
