Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26)
A screening instrument to identify the presence of eating disorder risk based on attitudes, feelings, and behaviors related to eating.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) was developed by David M. Garner, Marion P. Olmsted, Yvonne Bohr, Paul E. Garfinkel (1982). It is designed to measure Eating disorder risk. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 26 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Dieting, Bulimia and Food Preoccupation, Oral Control.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Dieting | 1,6,7,10,11,12,14,16,17,22,23,24 | 12 |
| Bulimia and Food Preoccupation | 3,4,9,18,21,25 | 6 |
| Oral Control | 2,5,8,13,15,19,20,26 | 8 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: always = Always, usually = Usually, often = Often, sometimes = Sometimes, rarely = Rarely, never = Never.
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:
- Low risk: 0 – 19
- High risk (clinical range): 20 – 78
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of High internal consistency.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.