DYING TO BE THIN?

Eating Disorders Support.COM

located just outside of Seattle, Washington

are you dying to be thin?

Due to an increase in publicity and public awareness, anorexia nervosa (key symptom: extreme weight loss due to self-starvation accompanied by an intense fear of being fat or gaining weight) and bulimia nervosa (key symptom: binge eating-eating followed by purging) are becoming more and more openly acknowledged.

The following questionnaire will tell you whether or not you think or behave in a way that indicates that you have tendencies toward anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.

DIRECTIONS: Answer the questions below honestly. Respond as you are now, not the way you used to be or the way you would like to be. Write the number of your answer in the space at the left. Do not leave any questions blank unless instructed to do so.

___1. I have eating habits that are different from those of my family and friends.

1) Often 2) Sometimes 3) Rarely 4) Never

___2. I find myself panicking if I cannot exercise as I planned because I am afraid I will gain weight if I don't.

1) Often 2) Sometimes 3) Rarely 4) Never

___3. My friends tell me I am thin, but I don't believe them because I feel fat.

___4. (Females only) My menstrual period has stopped or become irregular due to no known medical reasons.

1) True 2) False

___5. I have become obsessed with food to the point that I cannot go through a day without worrying about what I will or

will not eat.

1) Almost always 2) Sometimes 3) Rarely 4) Never

___6. I have lost more than 15% of what is considered a healthy weight for my height (e.g. female, 5'4" tall, healthy weight

is 122 pounds, lost 20 pounds to 102 pounds) and currently weighs that weight or less.

1) True 2) False

___7. I would panic if I got on the scale tomorrow and found out I had gained two pounds.

1) Almost always 2) Sometimes 3) Rarely 4) Never

___8. I find that I prefer to eat alone or when I am sure no one will see me, thus make excuses so I can eat less and less with

friends and family.

1) Often 2) Sometimes 3) Rarely 4) Never

___9. I find myself going on uncontrollable eating binges during which I consume large amounts of food to the point that I

feel sick and make myself vomit.

1) Never 2) Less than 1 time per week 3) 1 - 6 times per week 4) 1 or more times per day

___10. (NOTE: Answer only if your answer to #9 is "1", otherwise leave blank.) I find myself compulsively eating more than I

want to while feeling out of control and/or unaware of what I am doing.

1) Never 2) Less than 1 time per week 3) 1 - 6 times per week 4) 1 or more times per day

____11. I use laxatives or diuretics as a means of weight control.

1) Never 2) Rarely 3) Sometimes 4) On a regular basis.

___12. I find myself playing games with food (e.g., cutting it up into tiny pieces, hiding food so people will think I ate it,

chewing it and spitting it out without swallowing it, keeping hidden stashes of food) and/or telling myself certain

foods are bad.

1) Often 2) Sometimes 3) Rarely 4) Never

___13. People around me have become very interested in what I eat and I find myself getting angry at them for pushing

me to eat more.

1) Often 2) Sometimes 3) Rarely 4) Never

___14. I have felt more depressed and irritable recently than I used to and/or have been spending an increasing amount

of time alone.

1) True 2) False

___15. I keep a lot of my fears about food and eating to myself because I am afraid no one would understand.

1) Often 2) Sometimes 3) Rarely 4) Never

___16. I enjoy making gourmet and/or high calorie meals for others as long as I don't have to eat any myself.

1) Often 2) Sometimes 3) Rarely 4) Never

___17. The most powerful fear in my life is the fear of gaining weight or becoming fat.

1) Often 2) Sometimes 3) Rarely 4) Never

___18. I exercise a lot (more than 4 times per week and/or ore than 4 hours per week) as a means of weight control.

1) True 2) False

___19. I find myself totally absorbed when reading books and magazines about dieting, exercising, and calorie counting to

the point that I spend hours studying them.

1) Often 2) Sometimes 3) Rarely 4) Never

___20. I tend to be a perfectionist and am not satisfied with myself unless I do things perfectly.

1) Almost always 2) Sometimes 3) Rarely 4) Never

___21. I go through long periods of time without eating (fasting) or eating very little as a means of weight control.

1) Often 2) Sometimes 3) Rarely 4) Never

___22. It is important to me to try to be thinner than all of my friends.

1) Almost always 2) Sometime 3) Rarely 4) Never

SCORING

Step 1: Add scores together. Total is ________.

Step 2: Compare your total score with the table below.

38 or less Strong tendencies toward anorexia nervosa.

39 - 50 Strong tendencies toward bulimia nervosa.

50 - 60 Weight conscious. May or may not have tendencies toward an eating disorder. Not likely to have anorexia or

bulimia nervosa. May have tendencies toward compulsive eating, binge eating, or obesity.

Over 60 Extremely unlikely to have anorexia or bulimia nervosa, however, scoring over 60 does not rule out tendencies

toward compulsive eating, binge eating, or obesity.

*****If you scored below 50, it would be wise for you to 1) seek more information about anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and 2) contact a counselor, pastor, teacher, or physician in order to find out if you have an eating disorder and if you do, talk about what kind of assistance would be best for you. E-mail us at help@eatingdisorderssupport.com if you have questions.

*****If you scored between 50 and 60, it would be a good idea for you to talk with a counselor, pastor, teacher or physician in order to find out if you have an eating disorder and, if you do, how to get some help.E-mail us at help@eatingdisorderssupport.com if you have questions.

*****If you scored over 60 but have questions and concerns about the way you eat and/or your weight, it would be a good idea for you to talk to a counselor, pastor, teacher, or physician in order to determine if you have an eating disorder and if you do, how to get some help.

NOTE!! Eating disorders are potentially life-threatening disorders which can be overcome with the proper information, support, and counseling. The earlier you seek help, the better, although it is never too late to start on the road to recovery.

For permission to reprint, please contact Dr.Lampson at:

9725 SE 36th Street

Mercer Island, WA 98040

206-232-8404

help@eatingdisorderssupport.com