Disordered eating behaviors are sometimes normalized and even praised in our society. Due to the glamorization of diet culture, it can be hard to determine if you might have an eating disorder. If you’re thinking about taking an online quiz for a diagnosis, read this first:
Eating Disorder Tests
On the internet, you can find many tests that claim to be able to help you determine if you have symptoms of an eating disorder. Most of these online tests consist of questions that require you to rate on a scale from “Not at all” to “All the time”. The queries are things such as “Do you feel fat?” and “Have you had the desire you have a flatter stomach?”. Once the test is completed, you’ll receive their opinion on whether you have the symptoms of an eating disorder.
How Effective Are Online Tests?
Online tests are not a substitute for speaking to a clinician. The effectiveness of these quizzes is hard to gauge. Due to the vagueness of the questions, and the variability of eating disorder symptoms from person to person, an online test can’t truly tell you if you have an eating disorder. In some cases, an online quiz might completely miss the symptoms of an individual’s eating disorder, so it’s important that you talk to a professional.
When In Doubt, Seek a Professional
If you find yourself searching online for an eating disorder quiz, it probably means you are wondering if you have an eating disorder. Considering the many health risks affiliated with eating disorders, it’s integral that you seek professional help. Early detection of an eating disorder can help you avoid serious long-term effects. With that being said, it is never too late to get help and start recovery.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of an eating disorder, it’s crucial to talk to your doctor. Ask them for recommendations for a clinician who specializes in different eating disorders. Make a preliminary appointment with that provider, and they can give you a more accurate diagnosis than any quiz you take.
Support From Family
Research indicates that when families are involved in the eating disorder recovery process, there is a higher level of success. Some practices like MyClearStep offer tools to help your family members take active action in monitoring your recovery. Our Parent Portal allows a parent to securely and instantly receive your data and track progress. Your family can be part of the support network that you need so that you can get well and have a healthy relationship with food again.
Online Therapy
Virtual eating disorder practices like MyClearStep are an option. Some individuals experiencing disordered eating have an especially hard time talking about their problems in person due to feeling shameful and having a fear of being judged. Whatever the case, online counseling offers an alternative. In this setting, you may feel more comfortable opening up about your feelings and challenges.
If you’re concerned that online therapy is an inferior substitute for in-person counseling, a recent study refutes this. The study found evidence that certain types of online therapy for eating disorders such as imaginal exposure therapy was associated with positive outcomes. These included fewer symptoms of disordered eating as well as a decrease in fear of food and weight gain.
MyClearStep offers an approach to virtual eating disorder recovery using privacy compliant numberless scale. With us, you have the ability for your care team to monitor your progress virtually without any feedback while being in the comfort of your own home.
If you believe that you might have an eating disorder or disordered eating, you don’t have to struggle in silence anymore. Reach out to MyClearStep today, so that you can express your concerns and talk about taking the next step to recovery.
