Nineteen eating disorder scales: Comparison by focus, ease, response format, and readability

Eating scales vary enormously in focus, ease, response format, and readability. As part of a larger study related to ethnicity and eating scales, we examined differences in eating scales to determine whether some scales may be more global and culture free in application than others. Ease of readability is related to the educational and cultural background of those to whom the scales are administered. Thus, 30 years of psychological literature (1968-1997) was reviewed; 40 eating disorder scales were found and requested from their authors. Using those who responded, 19 major scales were compared by focus, response format, validity, length, structure, reading level, and reading complexity. As expected, scales vary enormously in focus, length, content, and response format. Readability (as grade level) ranged from a high of 10.6 to a low of 1.1; 70% of the rated scales were rated as "highly readable."