Emotional Eating Quiz

Here are some questions to help you determine whether you have a problem with emotional eating. Read the questions carefully and answer honestly. Once complete, you will receive a score that will help you interpret your results. If you decide to make an appointment with me, you can also print this page for our first meeting so that I can get a better idea of which areas you're struggling with.

Please note that this quiz is for self-assessment purposes only. It is not a substitute for a clinical interview, nor does it provide a diagnosis of any kind.

Are you an emotional eater?

Question 1

I have powerful cravings that come on suddenly.

Question 2

My cravings don't go away until I satisfy them.

Question 3

I'm willing to go out of my way to satisfy my cravings.

Question 4

I tend to crave junk food, not healthy food.

Question 5

My eating is triggered by upsetting events or emotions.

Question 6

I am often not aware of how much or what I eat - I may suddenly discover the whole bag of chips is gone or find myself snacking mindlessly just because food is in front of me.

Question 7

I eat beyond the point of fullness - I just can't see to stop at "enough."

Question 8

I can't remember the last time I felt physically hungry (e.g., growling stomach, hunger pangs).

Question 9

I eat in private (e.g., in my car) or hide food from others.

Question 10

I avoid eating in front of other people, like in restaurants or with friends.

Question 11

I tend to eat less or choose healthier foods when I'm around others.

Question 12

My friends or family members have expressed concern about my eating habits or weight.

What are your reasons for emotional eating?

Question 13

I use food to dull emotions like anxiety, stress, sadness, loneliness or boredom.

Question 14

Instead of expressing my emotions, I use food to stuff them down.

Question 15

I use food to quiet the inner critic that puts me down and makes me feel like a failure.

Question 16

I use food to avoid confronting people who make me feel belittled, taken advantage of or taken for granted.

Question 17

Whenever somebody tries to tell me what I can and cannot do (especially with my diet), I eat to rebel or assert my independence.

Question 18

I eat whenever there is tension in a close relationship, and I feel rejected or angry.

Question 19

I use food as a substitute for love and companionship.

Question 20

I eat to protect myself from expressing my sexuality, by staying overweight to avoid sexual attention, or to derive the pleasure from food I'm not getting from physical intimacy.

Question 21

I use food to feel constantly full, which helps avoid reminding me of my childhood deprivation.

Question 22

I eat to feel carefree and to satisfy my need for pleasure in life.

Question 23

I use food to reward myself after a hard day.

Question 24

Eating is synonymous with socializing and having a good time.

Question 25

Whenever I am faced with a challenge, I eat to avoid taking a risk or the fear of failure.

Question 26

On some level, I continue eating because I'm afraid of change and/or of being thin.

What are some of the issues that might be contributing to your emotional eating?

Question 27

I am a perfectionist - I like things to be just so, and I need to feel in control.

Question 28

My life is very chaotic.

Question 29

I have a hard time saying "no" to people and often take on too many responsibilities.

Question 30

I am constantly seeking approval from people in my life.

Question 31

I don't trust myself to make good decisions or judgment calls.

Question 32

I don't think I'm good enough, that I'm inferior to others in some way.

Question 33

I keep my thoughts and feelings to myself so that people will like me.

Question 34

My problems and feelings are not as important as everyone else's.

Question 35

Everyone comes to me to talk about their problems - I'm always the "strong one."

Question 36

I am unhappy in my relationship.

Question 37

I can't seem to find or keep a satisfying relationship.

Question 38

I often feel lonely, and have trouble making friends.

Question 39

I'm constantly comparing myself to women (or men) that I see in the media or strangers that I think are better looking or thinner than me.

Question 40

I feel that I have not fulfilled my potential in life.

Question 41

I often feel empty or numb, that there is a void in my life.

Question 42

I believe that I deserve to be fat or unhappy.

Question 43

I find that my problems are overwhelming and I suffer from a sense of hopelessness or a lack of motivation.

What are some of the consequences of emotional eating?

Question 44

During a binge, I feel a temporary relief from my overwhelming emotions.

Question 45

I feel guilty after eating certain foods or certain amounts of food.

Question 46

After a binge, I feel like a terrible failure and give up any efforts at weight control.

Question 47

After indulging, I start to worry about gaining weight and may restrict my food intake, engage in excessive exercise, vomit, or use laxatives to reverse the effects.

Question 48

I am very concerned with my looks.

Question 49

I am constantly on a diet.

Question 50

I weigh myself at least once a day.

Scoring Guide

200-250 points: You are definitely an emotional eater. You exhibit all the classic signs, and are using food to deal with a lot of unresolved issues in your life. You are probably experiencing a lot of distress about your eating habits and your weight. In addition, you are likely experiencing a lot of pain, depression or anxiety about some of the other problems in your life. Don't let this go on any longer; seek professional help. Go here to read learn about the services I offer.

150-199 points: You exhibit many of the signs of an emotional eater. You probably struggle with your eating habits when times get tough or you're dealing with a lot of stress in your life. You probably have some unresolved issues that are holding you back from living your best life. Perhaps you've never realized the fact that you tend to sometimes use food to cope with life, and don't want the problem to get worse. Or maybe you have the problem under control right now but would like to learn to cope even better with some of the difficult issues or emotions in your life. Go here to learn more about the services I offer.

100-149 points: Although you may sometimes use food to cope with difficult situations or emotions, you aren't much of an emotional eater. You rarely overeat or use food to deal with life, although you may indulge under extreme stress or around the holidays. Take a few days to be conscious about your relationship with food, and pay attention to the emotions that are connected to your eating. Perhaps you've underestimated how strong the relationship is, especially if you struggle with your weight. Take the quiz again and see if you get a different result. If you think you'd like help to deal with some of the issues in your life, go here to learn more about the services I offer.

50-99 points: You are definitely not an emotional eater. Although everyone indulges from time to time, it is unlikely that you've learned to use food as the primary coping mechanism in your life. If you still struggle with your weight, take a few days to pay attention to your relationship with food and see if maybe you haven't realized how your emotions are connected to your eating habits. Go back and take the test again. If you definitely aren't an emotional eater, you may have a medical condition that is connected to your weight problem; visit a doctor to help rule out any health problems.

Get Your Free Report!

Sign up now to receive your free copy of 5 Steps to Getting Control of Emotional Eating and my monthly newsletter, Food for Thought.



Recent Articles

Resources