5-Question Screening Tool for Eating Disorders

I get it, as medical professionals you are go-go-go! How do you take the time to assess if someone has an eating disorder when they are not presenting?

In 1999, the “SCOFF Questionnaire” was developed to give providers a fast way to assess for Anorexia or Bulimia (false positive rate of only 12.5% for the controls – but maybe they developed one later, there was not commentary on follow up).

Answering “yes” to at least two of the following questions led to a nearly 100% positive diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.
Ask your patient(s):
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The SCOFF questions*

• Do you make yourself Sick because you feel uncomfortably full?
• Do you worry that you have lost Control over how much you eat?
• Have you recently lost more than One stone (14 lb) in a 3-month period?
• Do you believe yourself to be Fat when others say you are too thin?
• Would you say that Food dominates your life?

Although the authors’ state there is need for further testing to increase validity of the SCOFF questions, this questionnaire has been standard in various health care settings for many years.

Sources:

1. Morgan JF, Reid F, Lacey JH. The SCOFF questionnaire: assessment of a new screening too for eating disorders. BMJ 1999;319:1467
2. Morgan JF, Reid F, Lacey JH. The SCOFF questionnaire: a new screening tool for eating disorders. Western Journal of Medicine. 2000;172(3):164-165.