Introduction

The Binge Eating Scale explores eating behaviour together with thoughts and feelings around eating. Each of its 16 questions offers descriptions that combine experiences such as loss of control, eating patterns and distress afterwards.

The original research considered both behavioural manifestations and feelings or beliefs surrounding an episode. This is a different focus from calorie counting or measuring body size. Concrete descriptions of what happens before, during and after eating can clarify which experience is troubling.

EAT-26 covers a broader set of eating attitudes and behaviours. BES is more focused on binge-eating experiences. The two questionnaires can organise different concerns, and their totals should not be compared as if they measured one identical scale.

Instructions

Below are groups of statements about behavior, thoughts, and emotional states. Please indicate which statement in each group best describes how you feel.

Question 1 / 160 answered

Item 1

I don’t feel self-conscious about my weight or body size when I’m with others.I feel concerned about how I look to others, but it normally does not make me feel disappointed with myself.I do get self-conscious about my appearance and weight which makes me feel disappointed in myself.I feel very self-conscious about my weight and frequently, I feel intense shame and disgust for myself. I try to avoid social contacts because of my self-consciousness.

Scoring and result metrics

The result page reports a local screening score for this questionnaire. Use the score range, any subscale scores, and the interpretation band together rather than treating one number as a diagnosis.

Score range: 0-46
Items scored: 16
Result indicators: Total score / Interpretation band when available

Score interpretation bands

0-17Little or no binge eating
Scores in the 0-17 range indicate little or no Binge eating behavior.
18-26Moderate binge eating
Scores in the 18-26 range indicate moderate Binge eating behavior.
27-46Severe binge eating
Scores in the 27-46 range indicate severe Binge eating behavior.

Interpretation bands summarize screening thresholds from the questionnaire source material. Higher scores usually indicate more of the measured concern unless the tool notes a different scoring rule.

Tool information

Version: 16 questions
Administration: Self-report
Intended audience: Adults and older adolescents reviewing binge-eating behavior, loss of control, thoughts, and emotional consequences

Sources

J Gormally, S Black, S Daston, D Rardin. The assessment of binge eating severity among obese persons. 7(1): Addict Behav 47-55 (1982).

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Eating disorders

Eating Attitudes Test - 26 Item (EAT-26)

EAT-26 explores eating attitudes, concerns about weight and patterns around food.

32 questions