Do You Have a Healthy Relationship with Food?
Answer the following questions with a yes or a no.
- 1. Can you eat when you are hungry and quit when you are satisfied?
- 2. Do you stop eating because you think you should (as opposed to because your body is satisfied)?
- 3. Do you make food choices based on foods you enjoy?
- 4. Do you become physically uncomfortable (such a weak, tired, dizzy, a headache) when you under-eat or diet?
- 5. Do you feel that your food selections are a combination of "healthy foods" and "pleasurable foods"?
- 6. Do you have to eat in a certain pattern _ always three meals a day or always at a certain time of the day?
- 7. Do you trust that if you eat when you are hungry and stop when you are satisfied, you will not get fat?
- 8. Do you feel guilty when you eat to the point that you are stuffed and uncomfortable?
- 9. Can you balance the time you give to thoughts about food, weight and dieting with other important aspects of your life, such as relationships, work and self-development?
- 10. Do you watch what other people eat and use that to determine what and how much you will eat?
- 11. Can you leave some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow?
- 12. Do you usually pick foods based on their calorie content?
SCORING: ADD UP ALL THE "NO" RESPONSES TO THE ODD-NUMBERED QUESTIONS.WHAT IS YOUR TOTAL OF THOSE?
ADD UP ALL THE "YES" RESPONSES TO THE EVEN-NUMBERED QUESTIONS. WHAT IS YOUR TOTAL OF THOSE?
NOW ADD UP YOUR TOTAL OF THE POINTS ABOVE (NO'S TO ODDS PLUS YES'S TO EVENS). THIS IS YOUR TOTAL SCORE.
SCORES BETWEEN 0 AND 3: THESE SCORES GENERALLY INDICATE A HEALTHY ATTITUDE TOWARD FOOD AND EATING.SCORES BETWEEN 4 AND 8: THESE SCORES SUGGEST THAT CULTURAL PRESSURES ABOUT APPEARANCE AND IDEAS ABOUT HOW MUCH AND WHAT KINDS OF FOODS TO EAT MAY BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTING SELF-ACCEPTANCE AND OVERALL HAPPINESS. EXPLORING THESE ISSUES MAY BE HELPFUL.
SCORES BETWEEN 9 AND 12 : THESE SCORES SUGGEST SERIOUS ISSUES WITH FOOD, RANGING FROM FOOD OBSESSION TO AN EATING DISORDER. THESE ISSURES COULD BE INTERFERING WITH DAILY LIFE AND MAY NEGATIVELY AFFECT OVERALL HEALTH. PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IS RECOMMENDED TO DEAL WITH THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND BEHAVIORS RELATED TO FOOD AND BODY IMAGE. MEDICAL EVALUATION AND INTERVENTION MAY ALSO BE NEEDED TO ADDRESS HEALTH CONCERNS.
*note: The "Healthy Relationship with Food" Inventory can only give results based on the limited number of questions asked in the inventory. It cannot account for the truthfulness of the answers, only for the self-reporting of each participant. The interpretations given are for informational and educational purposes only, and do not constitute or substitute for any psychological and medical evaluations performed by a qualified professional, nor for any psychological or medical treatment. If psychological or medical evaluation and treatment are indicated, immediately consult a qualified professional. - RETURN TO HEALTH AND COUNSELING CENTER HOME PAGE