Eating Disorder Test for Athletes
You have always been disciplined about your body. That's what athletes do — you train harder, eat cleaner, push past limits that would stop most people. But somewhere along the way, the discipline became something else. Counting every calorie stopped being about performance and started being about control. Skipping meals before weigh-ins became skipping meals all the time. The voice in your head that used to say "train harder" now says "you're not lean enough, not light enough, not good enough." And you keep going because that's what athletes do — until your body starts breaking down in ways you cannot ignore.
Athletes are 2-3 times more likely to develop eating disorders than the general population, yet athletic culture often normalizes the very behaviors that signal a problem. This free, private screening uses the SCOFF questionnaire, a validated clinical tool. It is not a diagnosis, but it can help you honestly evaluate whether your relationship with food and your body has crossed a line — and what to do about it without sacrificing the sport you love.
Takes about 3 minutes. Completely private — nothing is stored or shared.
Why This Matters
2–3x higher prevalence
Athletes develop eating disorders at 2–3 times the rate of the general population. In some sports, prevalence rates exceed 30%. Athletic culture often normalizes behaviors that would be recognized as disordered in other contexts. — British Journal of Sports Medicine
RED-S & Female Athlete Triad
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) affects hormones, bone health, immunity, cardiovascular function, and mental health. The Female Athlete Triad — low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and bone loss — remains a critical concern. Both conditions can have lasting health consequences. — IOC Consensus Statement
Male athletes underrecognized
An estimated 33% of athletes with eating disorders are male, yet they are far less likely to be screened, identified, or offered treatment. Eating disorders in male athletes may focus on muscularity rather than thinness, making them harder to recognize. — National Eating Disorders Association
What To Expect
This screening uses the SCOFF questionnaire, a brief, validated tool used by healthcare professionals to identify potential eating disorders.
Aesthetic vs. weight-class vs. endurance sports: Different sports create different risk profiles. Aesthetic sports (gymnastics, figure skating, dance) emphasize appearance. Weight-class sports (wrestling, boxing, rowing) incentivize rapid weight manipulation. Endurance sports (distance running, cycling) reward low body weight. Each creates unique pressures, but the underlying dynamic is the same — your body becomes a variable to control.
Performance pressure: Athletes often believe that thinner or lighter means faster or better. While body composition does affect performance in some sports, the pursuit of an "ideal" body often crosses into territory that actually degrades performance through fatigue, injury, and hormonal disruption.
Coaching influence: Coaches who comment on athletes' weight, body shape, or eating habits — even casually — can trigger or reinforce disordered eating. Research shows that a single comment from a coach about weight can be a precipitating factor. Good coaching focuses on performance behaviors, not body composition.
Body composition monitoring risks: Regular weigh-ins, body fat testing, and physique evaluations can become triggers for athletes predisposed to eating disorders. While some monitoring has a place in elite sport, it should always be conducted by qualified professionals with appropriate context and support.
"Clean eating" becoming disordered: In athletic culture, obsessive focus on eating "clean" or "pure" foods can evolve into orthorexia — a fixation on food quality that becomes restrictive and anxiety-driven. When food rules create distress, social isolation, or nutritional deficiency, the eating pattern has become disordered regardless of how "healthy" it appears.
Your privacy: Everything happens in your browser. Nothing is stored, transmitted, or visible to your coach, teammates, or anyone else.
Take the SCOFF Eating Disorder Screening
Answer each question honestly based on your current relationship with food and your body.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
An eating disorder screening tailored for athletes that accounts for sport-specific risk factors like weight pressure and overtraining.
Athletes, coaches, or sports parents concerned about disordered eating patterns in competitive sports environments.
Athletes face unique eating disorder risks from sport culture — recognizing the signs early protects long-term health. This tool is for informational purposes only. Not a substitute for professional mental health treatment.
What Is the Athlete Eating Disorder Screening?
How Is the Eating Disorder Test Scored?
What Do My Eating Disorder Results Mean?
SCOFF Eating Disorder Self-Check
The SCOFF is a validated screening tool for eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Five quick questions about your relationship with food and eating. Your answers stay in your browser and are never stored.
Last reviewed: March 2026
Before you begin
This self-check uses the SCOFF questionnaire, a validated 5-item screening tool for eating disorders developed by Morgan et al. (1999). The acronym stands for Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, Food. It is free to use for clinical screening purposes.
Please understand:
- This is not a diagnosis and does not replace professional evaluation.
- Results are educational only — they describe symptom levels, not clinical conditions.
- Only a qualified healthcare professional can diagnose or treat conditions.
- Your answers are processed entirely in your browser and are never stored or transmitted.
- If you are in immediate danger or having thoughts of self-harm, please contact emergency services or a crisis hotline now.
Your Next Steps
Call the eating disorders helpline
National Alliance for Eating Disorders: 1-866-662-1235 — free, confidential guidance and referrals. They can help you find providers who specialize in athletes, which is important because recovery in sport requires understanding both the eating disorder and the athletic context.
See a sports dietitian
A registered dietitian who specializes in sports nutrition can help you develop an eating plan that supports both your athletic performance and your health. They understand that "eat more" is not helpful advice without a plan. Look for the CSSD (Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics) credential.
Talk to someone who gets it
An athletic trainer, sports psychologist, or trusted teammate can be a good starting point. Many college athletic departments have mental health resources specifically for athletes. Recovery does not mean giving up your sport — many athletes compete at even higher levels after addressing disordered eating.
Crisis Resources
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 — free, 24/7, confidential
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 — free referrals, 24/7
- National Alliance for Eating Disorders: 1-866-662-1235 — free guidance and referrals
This screening tool is for educational purposes only — it is not a diagnosis. Only a qualified healthcare professional can assess eating disorders or related conditions. Your responses are processed entirely in your browser and are never stored or transmitted. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical advice.
Reviewed by a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CADC-II).
Last reviewed: March 2026