Eating Disorder & Body Image Assessments — Free Online Screening
10 clinical eating disorder and body image assessments — EAT-26, Binge Eating Scale, EDE-Q, Body Image Questionnaire, Appearance Anxiety Inventory. Free in the Mindtalk app.
Content warning and crisis support — read first
The assessments in this category contain questions about eating behaviour, weight perception, and body image. They do not request weight or calorie information, but some content may be triggering for people in active eating disorder recovery. If you are in treatment, take these alongside your therapist. The US-based NEDA helpline has been discontinued; the India-relevant lines below provide general mental-health crisis support including eating-disorder distress.
- iCall (Mon-Sat 8am-10pm): 9152987821
- Vandrevala Foundation (24/7): 1860 2662 345
- Cadabams 24/7: +91 97414 76476
All lines listed are free and confidential.
All 10 assessments
Each card opens the assessment in the Mindtalk app. Your results are saved privately and can be tracked over time.
EDE-A
Eating Disorder Examination for Adolescents (variant 1)
Two EDE-A entries exist in the app catalog — confirm with clinical team which is canonical before linking.
EDE-A
Eating Disorder Examination – Adolescent (variant 2)
Second EDE-A entry — see #47 note.
EDE-Q 6.0
Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire 6.0
COPS / BIQ-short
Cosmetic Procedure Screening / Body Image Questionnaire (short)
BIQ
Body Image Questionnaire (full)
Long form (102 items, ~20 min). Use short form (COPS) for screening.
All 10 eating disorder and body image assessments
EAT-26 — Eating Attitudes Test 26
The global standard for general eating disorder screening. 26 items measuring dieting, bulimia/food preoccupation, and oral control. A total score of 20 or higher warrants clinical evaluation. Strongest sensitivity for anorexia and bulimia patterns. Less sensitive to binge eating disorder. Takes 5-10 minutes. The single best starting point if you are unsure whether your eating concerns warrant clinical attention.
BES — Binge Eating Scale
16-item screening for Binge Eating Disorder (BED) — recurrent binge episodes without compensation. BED is the most common eating disorder globally and is significantly underdiagnosed because both patients and clinicians often miss it. Weight is not a defining criterion. If your primary concern is binge eating, start here rather than EAT-26. Takes 5-10 minutes.
EDE-Q — Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire
36-item self-report version of the gold-standard Eating Disorder Examination interview. Provides subscale scores across restraint, eating concern, shape concern, weight concern. More comprehensive than EAT-26 — used widely in research and specialist ED treatment. Takes 15-20 minutes.
EDE-Q 6.0 — Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire 6.0
The most current published version of EDE-Q (above). Functionally similar; minor revisions. Use this version if your clinician requests EDE-Q. Takes 15-20 minutes.
ED-15 — Eating Disorder 15
A briefer 15-item ED measure designed for routine outcome monitoring in clinical settings. Best for periodic re-administration during treatment rather than as a first screen. Takes 5-8 minutes.
EDE-A — Eating Disorder Examination for Adolescents (variant 1)
Adolescent-adapted version of the EDE for younger users. Adapted language. Best completed with parent or guardian support for younger adolescents. Takes 15-20 minutes.
EDE-A — Eating Disorder Examination – Adolescent (variant 2)
A second paediatric variant of the EDE-A. The two EDE-A entries have different app IDs in the inventory; clinical clarification is pending on whether these are different versions or duplicates. Takes 15-20 minutes.
AAI — Appearance Anxiety Inventory
10-item screener for appearance-related anxiety and body dysmorphic patterns. Measures how often appearance concerns occupy your mind and drive avoidance or checking behaviours. Quick first-line screener for body dysmorphic patterns. Takes 3-5 minutes.
BIQ — Body Image Questionnaire (full)
Longer comprehensive body image assessment covering body satisfaction, appearance evaluation, and appearance investment. Useful for deeper body image self-knowledge or as part of body-image-focused therapy. Takes 15-25 minutes.
COPS / BIQ-short — Cosmetic Procedure Screening / Body Image Questionnaire (short)
Specific to screening before considering cosmetic procedures. Identifies people for whom cosmetic intervention is unlikely to resolve underlying body image distress (often indicating Body Dysmorphic Disorder). Important screener before pursuing cosmetic surgery, dermatological appearance procedures, etc. Takes 5-10 minutes.
Which assessment should I take?
| If… | Start with | |---|---| | General eating disorder screening | EAT-26 (start here) | | Suspect binge eating disorder specifically | BES | | Want deeper restraint/concern subscales | EDE-Q (or EDE-Q 6.0) | | Adolescent (12-18) | EDE-A (with adult support) | | Body image concerns / suspect body dysmorphia | AAI (start) → BIQ (deeper) | | Considering cosmetic procedure | COPS / BIQ-short (before any cosmetic decision) | | In ED treatment, tracking progress | ED-15 |
Take more than one if multiple apply. Bring results to a clinician for interpretation — eating-disorder screening scores are particularly important to discuss with a trained clinician rather than self-interpret.
Eating disorders are real medical conditions
Eating disorders are not personal-discipline failures or lifestyle choices — they are serious medical and psychological conditions with measurable physiological effects, significant mortality risk (anorexia has one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness), and highly treatable presentations when caught early.
The major eating-disorder categories:
- Anorexia Nervosa (AN) — restriction of food intake leading to significantly low body weight, intense fear of weight gain, distorted body image
- Bulimia Nervosa (BN) — recurrent binge episodes followed by compensatory behaviours (purging, fasting, excessive exercise)
- Binge Eating Disorder (BED) — recurrent binge episodes without compensation; most common eating disorder
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) — restriction unrelated to body image or weight (sensory aversion, fear of consequences from eating)
- Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) — clinically significant patterns that do not fit the above categories cleanly; very common
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) — preoccupation with perceived flaw in appearance; related to but distinct from eating disorders
All are treatable. Most respond to specialist treatment combining therapy (CBT-E, family-based treatment, ACT), nutritional rehabilitation where needed, and sometimes medication. Recovery is possible.
Eating disorders across genders
Approximately 25% of eating disorder cases are in men — and this is likely an underestimate due to under-recognition. Male eating disorders often present differently:
- More focus on muscularity ("muscle dysmorphia") rather than thinness
- More exercise-based compensation
- More supplement and steroid use
- Later age of clinical recognition
Body Dysmorphic Disorder is roughly equally common across genders. Cultural framing in India often dismisses male body image concerns or recasts them as "discipline" — they are often clinical issues warranting treatment.
For non-binary and trans users, eating disorder presentations can interact with gender dysphoria. Specialist clinicians trained in both areas are important.
Body image concerns versus Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Almost everyone has aspects of their appearance they wish were different — this is normal body image dissatisfaction. Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a clinical condition where the concern becomes consuming:
- Preoccupation (1+ hours daily) with perceived flaws
- The flaws are often invisible or minor to others
- Repetitive behaviours — mirror-checking, skin-picking, reassurance-seeking, comparison
- Significant distress or impairment in daily functioning
- Often co-occurs with depression, anxiety, OCD
BDD is treatable with CBT (specifically with exposure and response prevention adapted for BDD) and sometimes medication. The COPS / BIQ-short is particularly important to take before considering cosmetic procedures — cosmetic intervention typically does not resolve BDD and can worsen the cycle.
What eating disorder treatment looks like
Evidence-based eating disorder treatments include:
- CBT-E (Enhanced CBT for Eating Disorders) — gold-standard for adult bulimia and BED; effective for non-underweight anorexia
- Family-Based Treatment (FBT / Maudsley) — first-line for adolescent anorexia
- Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM) — for adult anorexia where CBT-E is not appropriate
- Nutritional rehabilitation — under dietician supervision; essential where medical instability or significant restriction is present
- Medical monitoring — for low weight, purging-related electrolyte concerns, refeeding management
- Medication — fluoxetine for bulimia, lisdexamfetamine for BED, broader psychotropic for comorbidities
Most eating disorders are treated outpatient. Severe presentations may require day-programme or inpatient care, particularly when medical instability is present. Cadabams clinicians provide eating disorder assessment and treatment in Bengaluru — book at the doctors directory.
When to seek clinical help urgently
Do not wait for a scheduled assessment if:
- Rapid weight loss without medical cause
- Fainting, dizziness, or heart palpitations from restriction
- Purging multiple times daily
- Inability to eat at all
- Significant electrolyte concerns
- Self-harm or suicidal thoughts alongside ED behaviours
For these patterns, contact a Mindtalk clinician immediately or go to an emergency room. The crisis helplines listed in the safety section above are also available 24/7.
Pair with related Mindtalk tools
- The 60-day Self-Esteem & Confidence Journey addresses the self-worth dimension that often underlies disordered eating
- The 90-day Self-Compassion Journey targets the self-criticism that maintains both ED and BDD patterns
- The Wellbeing & Resilience assessments include the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Self-Compassion Scale — useful for tracking progress alongside ED screeners
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the EAT-26 and is it accurate?
- The EAT-26 (Eating Attitudes Test 26) is the most widely used eating disorder screening tool globally. 26 items measuring three subscales — dieting, bulimia/food preoccupation, and oral control. A total score of 20 or higher suggests significant eating concerns and warrants clinical evaluation. The screening has strong sensitivity for detecting anorexia and bulimia patterns; it is slightly less sensitive to binge eating disorder, which is better captured by the BES (Binge Eating Scale). The EAT-26 is the standard first-line screener used in research, clinical settings, and schools globally.
- What's the difference between body image issues and body dysmorphia?
- Body image dissatisfaction is extremely common — most people have aspects of their appearance they wish were different. Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is when this concern becomes a clinical condition — preoccupation with a perceived flaw (often invisible or minor to others), repetitive behaviours like mirror-checking or seeking reassurance, and significant distress or life interference. The Appearance Anxiety Inventory (AAI) and COPS / BIQ-short screen for body dysmorphic patterns. If you spend significant time daily on appearance-related distress or repetitive checking, that is the line where body image concerns become a clinical issue worth addressing.
- Are these tests safe to take if I have an active eating disorder?
- Some eating disorder content can be triggering for people in active eating disorder recovery, particularly around weight, calorie, or measurement questions. The assessments in this category are designed for screening, not for daily tracking, and do not include explicit weight or calorie content. However, if you are in active treatment, we recommend taking screening assessments alongside your therapist or treatment team — they can help you process the results and avoid unhelpful re-engagement with disorder-related thinking. If a screener feels distressing, stop and reach out to your clinician or a helpline.
- I binge eat but I'm not underweight. Can I still have an eating disorder?
- Yes. Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is now recognised as the most common eating disorder — more common than anorexia or bulimia combined. It is defined by recurrent binge eating episodes (loss of control, eating large amounts) without the compensatory behaviours of bulimia (no purging, fasting, or excessive exercise). Weight is not a defining criterion — people with BED can be at any body weight. The BES (Binge Eating Scale) is the gold-standard screening tool. BED is significantly underdiagnosed because both patients and clinicians often miss it. It is highly treatable with evidence-based therapy.
- Are eating disorders only a 'female' issue?
- No. Approximately 25% of eating disorder cases are in men, and the proportion is likely underestimated due to under-recognition. Male eating disorders often present differently — more focus on muscularity (rather than thinness), more exercise-based compensation, more late recognition. Body Dysmorphic Disorder is roughly equally common in men and women. In India specifically, eating disorders are under-recognised across genders due to cultural framing of body and food. If you are a man with disordered eating patterns, body image distress, or appearance preoccupation, the screening and treatment apply equally to you.
Need a clinician's read on your results?
A high score is a signal, not a diagnosis. Mindtalk's psychiatrists and clinical psychologists can interpret your results and recommend next steps — same-day appointments available.