Eating disorders range from a single, mild illness in adolescence to a lifelong disorder, which is either persistent or fluctuates. Take this self-assessment to see if you may be at risk. 1. Do you regularly binge eat? That is, do you eat during a discrete period of time (for instance, a two-hour period) an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar time period and under similar circumstances?
Yes
No
2. Do you feel that you can't control your eating during the binge? For example, do you feel that you can't stop eating or that you can't control what kinds of food you eat or how much you eat?
Yes
No
3. Do you feel disgusted with yourself or very guilty after overeating?
Yes
No
4. Do you make yourself vomit to prevent weight gain, especially after binge eating?
Yes
No
5. Do you use laxatives, diuretics (pills to induce fluid loss), enemas or other medications that were not prescribed by a doctor to cause weight loss?
Yes
No
6. Do you often fast or exercise excessively to lose weight, especially after you feel you've eaten too much?
Yes
No
7. Have you ever been intensely fearful of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though other people thought you were underweight, or you weighed less than normal for your age and height?
Yes
No
8. Do you eat much less than other people think is normal? For instance, do you restrict yourself to only one meal a day, or restrict your calorie consumption to a specific amount, even though you're still hungry?
Yes
No
9. Do you ever go on a weight-loss diet that makes your doctor or friends concerned about your health?
Yes
No
10. Do you smoke, use street drugs, or use large amounts of diet pills to control your weight?
Yes
No
Adapted from Roberto Olivardia et al. "The Adonis Complex: The Secret Crisis of Male Body Obsession." (Free Press; 2000).
