Analysis

The Eating Attitudes Test [EAT-40] is used to evaluate an individual’s attitude or relationship toward eating. Specifically, it assesses thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to food, as well as any concerns or disturbances a person may have regarding their eating habits. This tool is widely used in both clinical and research settings, primarily for the detection of potential eating problems such as eating disorders. An eating disorder may manifest in various ways, including restrictive dieting, preoccupation with weight, or uncontrolled food consumption. The test can provide valuable information to health professionals to better understand an individual’s eating behavior and to offer appropriate support or treatment.

Objective

The objective of this test is to assess an individual’s attitude toward eating and to detect possible concerns or eating disorders.

Scoring

The EAT-40 consists of 40 items, which are answered using the following scale:
Always
Very often
Often
Sometimes
Rarely
Never

Bibliography

Garner, D. M., & Garfinkel, P. E. (1979). The Eating Attitudes Test: An index of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa. Psychological Medicine, 9, 273–279.