Dr.'s Bill & Kristi Gaultiere, (949) 262-3699

Ask Yourself

Do you have an Eating Disorder?
William Gaultiere, Ph.D.

Do you (or someone you know) have a problem with compulsive behaviors surrounding food? Has overeating, under-eating, or binge and purge cycles diminished your enjoyment or productivity in your relationships or work? Take the “AN ADDICT” self-test for food addiction and find out.
  1. Alone? Do you prefer to eat alone than with family or friends? Do you avoid social situations that include food?
  2. Non-premeditated use? Do you find yourself eating when you’re not hungry? Does one indulgence lead to “pigging out?” Do you often forget to eat a meal? Do you “purge” through laxatives, compulsive exercise, or diuretics?
  3. Amnesia? Does eating, not eating, or purging leave you numb, in a fog, or detached?
  4. Depend on high? Do you frequently overeat, diet, over-exercise, or vomit for pleasure, energy, or confidence? Do you feel restless, irritable, or depressed if you don’t overeat, diet, over-exercise, or vomit? Have you tried unsuccessfully to change your eating habits?
  5. Distracted? Are you distracted by thoughts about your appearance, food, dieting, exercising, or vomiting? Has your performance at work or school decreased because of food, dieting, exercising, or vomiting?
  6. Increased tolerance? Are you eating, dieting, exercising, or vomiting more than you used to in order to manage your life?
  7. Conceal supply? Do you eat, diet, exercise, or vomit in secret? Do you tell lies to cover up your eating, dieting, exercising, or vomiting?
  8. Tranquilizer? Do you eat, diet, exercise, or vomit to feel better or to escape feelings of depression, guilt, or anxiety or to forget about your problems or a conflict?
Scoring: Yes answers in two or more categories indicate that you may have an eating disorder. For diagnoses and treatment consult in person with a doctor or psychotherapist. William Gaultiere, Ph.D. is the Director of New Hope Crisis Counseling at the Crystal Cathedral and a Psychologist with www.ChristianSoulCare.com.