This quiz will help you find out if your child has an eating disorder. While eating disorders have a lot to do with eating and weight (obviously!), they are mental disorders. This means that the diagnosis really requires behavioral and mood symptoms that go beyond eating and weight. In fact, the significant majority of people who have eating disorders hide in plain sight. Additionally, many eating disorders can look “healthy” according to popular opinion about how people “should” eat. The fastest-rising type of eating disorder is Orthorexia, which is an obsession with “healthy” food.

Take the quiz: Does my child have an eating disorder quiz

Maybe you have noticed that your child has been behaving differently around food lately. Maybe you’ve noticed changes in how your child eats. Or maybe you just have a sneaking suspicion that your child is keeping something secret from you. The bottom line is that if you have landed on this page, then you have some concerns about your child’s eating patterns. That’s a significant reason to be concerned and take some action.

Does my child have an eating disorder quiz

This quiz will help you hone in on your concerns about whether your child has an eating disorder. This quiz cannot take the place of a medical and psychological evaluation. It’s only designed to help a parent whose “spidey senses” are tingling to determine the next course of action.

No online quiz can take the place of a parent’s intuition that something is wrong. So even if you don’t get a clear result, an evaluation could be helpful. It may not be an eating disorder. It may be something entirely different. But you should listen closely to your instincts that something is going on with your child. Please seek help from someone who is qualified to help you figure out what it is.

Take the quiz: Does my child have an eating disorder quiz

What type of eating disorder does my child have?

Although there are technically five distinct eating disorder diagnoses, it is important to note that many cases do not neatly fit into a single diagnostic category. In fact, different types of eating disorders share many behavioral and psychological characteristics.

Your child may receive a more straightforward diagnosis such as anorexia or bulimia. Alternatively, they may fall into one of the various subtypes that fall under the umbrella of Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED). OSFED encompasses a range of variations including over-exercise disorders, anorexia at a higher weight, purging disorder, and orthorexia.

Regardless of your child’s specific diagnosis, it is crucial to remember that treatment can be beneficial. Your child will need to learn how to live a life free from their eating disorder, and the support of parents and family can make a significant difference in the recovery process.

The distribution of eating disorders among individuals is as follows:

Does my child have OSFED?

47% of cases fall under Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorder (OSFED). This category applies when the behaviors associated with an eating disorder do not meet the specific criteria for other established types. It is essential to note that OSFED is equally severe and dangerous, despite its classification.

Does my child have Binge Eating Disorder?

22% of cases involve Binge Eating Disorder (BED). This disorder typically involves a cycle of restriction and binge eating, where an individual limits food intake and then engages in episodes of excessive eating.

Does my child have Bulimia?

19% of cases are classified as Bulimia (BN). Bulimia is characterized by a cycle of restriction, binge eating, and purging behaviors, which may include vomiting, laxative use, and over-exercise. Trauma is often closely linked with bulimia.

Does my child have Anorexia?

8% of cases are diagnosed with Anorexia (AN). This eating disorder is characterized by significant weight loss, restriction of food intake, and a low body mass index (BMI). However, if an individual exhibits all the symptoms of anorexia but does not meet the criteria for a low BMI, they will be diagnosed as OSFED.

Does my child have ARFID?

5% of cases are categorized as Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not primarily associated with body image concerns or a desire to lose weight. Instead, it involves food avoidance and restriction, often due to sensory issues.

Common signs of an eating disorder

As I mentioned, there are many types of eating disorders, and they may include some or all of the following behaviors:

• Restricting food
• Binge-eating food
• Purging food using vomiting, laxatives or exercise
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Inaccurate self-image in terms of body weight and shape

How this quiz can help you spot the signs of an eating disorder

Sometimes a parent can recognize these obvious signs in a child. However, more often, the signs are subtle and hard to spot for three main reasons:

1. Secrecy: It is common for a child who has an eating disorder to hide their major symptoms. Parents are often not aware they exist.
2. Diet Culture: Our society applauds weight loss and efforts to control the body through food restriction. Parents can miss critical eating disorder behaviors because they fall under socially-acceptable dieting behavior.
3. Denial: Both people with eating disorders and the people who loved them can get stuck in a denial trap. None of us wants to see our child suffer, and mental disorders, especially eating disorders, carry a lot of stigma that can get in the way of diagnosis and treatment.

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See Our Parent’s Guide To The Different Eating Disorder Behaviors