Children’s Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT)
A 26-item questionnaire used to assess eating attitudes and disordered eating behaviors in children aged 8 to 15.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Children’s Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT) was developed by Maloney, M. J., McGuire, J. B., & Daniels, S. R. (1988). It is designed to measure Eating attitudes and disordered eating behaviors. The scale is intended for use with Children aged 8 – 15.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 26 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Dieting, Restricting and Purging, Food Preoccupation, Oral Control.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Dieting | 1,2,6,10,11,12,14,16,17,22,23,24 | 12 |
| Restricting and Purging | 2,7,9,10,17,22,23,24,26 | 9 |
| Food Preoccupation | 3,4,18,20,21 | 5 |
| Oral Control | 8,13,15,20 | 4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Never, 0 = Rarely, 0 = Sometimes, 1 = Often, 2 = Very Often, 3 = Always.
The scale includes 1 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 78. Interpretation guidelines:
- Normal / Low Risk: 0 – 19
- Disturbed eating patterns (requires further assessment): 20 – 78
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Adequate reliability and validity.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.