Compulsive Eating Scale – CES
Measures the severity of compulsive eating behaviors and loss of control over eating.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Compulsive Eating Scale – CES was developed by D. M. Kagan & R. L. Squires (1984). It is designed to measure Compulsive eating. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 8 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never, 2 = Once or twice a year, 3 = Once a month, 4 = Once a week, 5 = More than once a week.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 8 to 40. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low level of compulsive eating: 8 – 16
- Moderate level of compulsive eating: 17 – 28
- High level of compulsive eating: 29 – 40
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.83.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.