How can you tell if you or a friend might have an eating disorder? British researchers have devised a simple five-question test, which indicates whether you have a problem. Simply answer yes or no to these questions:

1. Are you making yourself S Ick feel uncomfortably full?

2. Do you worry you have lost C ontrol over how much you eat?

3. Have you recently lost O see fourteen pounds in 3 months? *

4. Do you believe yourself to be F when others say you are too thin?

5. Would you say that F OOD dominates your life?

This simple five-question test is known as a mock questionnaire. Each of the character is one of five key questions sick domination, *, fat, and food. Note the original “ O ” representative of the British gravity one stone, which is equivalent to 14 pounds. The original question was, “Have you recently lost more than O ne stone 3 months? That I meant that “ O Ver 14 pounds. “

The mock screening tool was developed by researchers at George Hospital Medical School in London and the link to the free full text of this study is under the Links and Resources section (Morgan et al).

If you answered “yes” to any two or more of these questions shows that you’re likely have an eating disorder. Eating disorders are complex and life-threatening. Early detection helps you get better, earlier and with fewer complications.

Links and Resources

• Academy for Eating Disorders (AED). AED is an international source for state-of-the-art information and members compromise multidisciplinary professionals from around the world.
• Morgan JF, F Reid, and Lacey JH. The mock questionnaire: evaluation of new screening tool for eating disorders. BMJ 1999 ; 319: 1467-1468
• National Eating Disorders Association (Neda). This organization supports individuals and families, and acts as a catalyst for prevention, medical care and access to quality care