Eating Attitudes Test – EAT-26
A standardized screening tool to identify individuals at risk for eating disorders and assess concerns related to dieting, bulimia, food preoccupation, and oral control.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Eating Attitudes Test – EAT-26 was developed by David M. Garner, Marion P. Olmsted, Y. Bohr, Paul E. Garfinkel (1982). It is designed to measure Disordered eating behaviors and attitudes toward food. 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 | 1,6,7,10,11,12,14,16,17,22,23,24,26 | 13 |
| Bulimia and Food Preoccupation | 3,4,9,18,21,25 | 6 |
| Oral Control | 2,5,8,13,15,19,20 | 7 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Always, 2 = Very Often, 3 = Often, 4 = Sometimes, 5 = Rarely, 6 = Never.
The scale includes 1 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 78. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low risk: 0 – 19
- High risk (referral for professional evaluation recommended): 20 – 78
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.90.
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.