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The eating attitudes test: twenty-five years later.
1Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Eating and Weight Disorders : EWD
|April 13, 2001
Summary
The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) is a reliable and valid self-report tool for screening eating disorders. While sensitive, its low positive predictive value is due to low prevalence and potential response biases.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Clinical Assessment
Background:
- The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) was developed in the late 1970s.
- It is a self-report measure designed to indicate symptoms of eating disorders.
- The EAT has been extensively studied across diverse cultures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing literature on the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT).
- To evaluate the psychometric properties and utility of the EAT in assessing eating disorders.
- To discuss the application of the EAT in screening and research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies utilizing the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT).
- Analysis of the EAT's psychometric properties: reliability, validity, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value.
- Examination of factors influencing EAT results, such as denial and social desirability.
Main Results:
- The EAT demonstrates good reliability and validity.
- It possesses reasonable sensitivity and specificity for detecting eating disorders.
- However, the EAT exhibits very low positive predictive value, primarily due to the low prevalence of eating disorders.
Conclusions:
- The EAT is a valuable tool for screening eating disturbances and for comparative research.
- Its effectiveness can be influenced by individual factors like denial and social desirability.
- Despite limitations, the EAT remains a widely used instrument for assessing eating disorder symptoms across various populations and over time.