Brief Description
The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire 6.0 (EDE-Q) is a widely-used and well-validated measure that assesses the range, frequency, and severity of disordered eating over the previous 28 days. It is adapted from the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) which is a widely-used semi-structured clinician interview. The EDE-Q is made up of 28 questions on a 7-point, forced-choice rating scale (0–6) Response options vary by question. It includes four primary subscales:
Restraint - measures dietary restraint or attempts to control eating.
Eating Concern - evaluates preoccupation with food, guilt about eating, and other related concerns.
Shape Concern - assesses distress related to body shape and the desire to be thinner.
Weight Concern - measures concerns about weight and the desire to lose weight.
The average of the four subscales above generate the global average score. The EDE-Q is useful in both clinical and research settings for identifying eating disorder symptoms, tracking changes over time, and guiding treatment planning.
Assessment Administration Type
Self-report
Number of questions
28
Age Range for Administration
18+
Recommended Frequency of Administration
Every 4 weeks
Summary of Scoring and Interpretations
Scoring the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) involves calculating scores for each of its four subscales (Restraint, Eating Concern, Shape Concern, and Weight Concern) as well as an overall Global Score. Each subscale score is calculated by generating an average score of its respective items:
Subscale | Items |
Restraint | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
Eating Concern | 7, 9, 19, 20, 21 |
Shape Concern | 6, 8, 10, 11, 23, 26, 27, 28 |
Weight Concern | 8, 12, 22, 24, 25 |
The Global Average Score is the overall severity score for eating disorder symptoms.
It is calculated by adding up all four subscale scores (Restraint, Eating Concern, Shape Concern, and Weight Concern) and dividing by four. It is listed as a fifth subscale score on the Blueprint platform.
Higher scores indicate greater eating disorder symptom severity. The interpretation of scores, however, should be done by a clinician, as severity thresholds can vary across different populations. Some research suggests a cut off score of 4 or higher is indicative of clinically salient symptomatology, although there is evidence of varying clinical cutoffs for different populations, often based on gender, age, or specific diagnostic categories. Clinicians should be aware of these norms and exercise caution when using cutoffs as definitive diagnostic tools, instead integrating results with comprehensive clinical assessments. The EDE-Q also includes frequency items for specific behaviors (like binge eating episodes), which are typically scored separately and reported as frequencies rather than averaged scores.
Blueprint Adjustments
The “Total Score” produced by the Blueprint platform should not be used. Instead, the Global Average subscale score reflects the overall measure of disordered eating symptoms. Blueprint does not include questions of EDE-Q that inquire about weight, height, and menstruation–none of which are needed for scoring purposes.
Clinical Considerations
Estimated time to complete: 7-11 minutes
Attitudes toward weight and shape vary widely across cultures, which can impact responses on the Shape and Weight Concern subscales. Clinicians should consider cultural backgrounds and avoid a one-size-fits-all interpretation, especially when working with diverse populations.
Cultural differences in dietary practices or eating behaviors may affect the interpretation of dietary restraint and other eating-related behaviors.
While the EDE-Q is commonly used with adolescents, certain items may not fully capture developmentally relevant aspects of disordered eating in younger populations. Use caution about rigid interpretation of scores in younger clients and consider supplementing with developmentally appropriate assessments.
Citation
Luce, K. H., & Crowther, J. H. (1999). The reliability of the Eating Disorder Examination—Self-Report Questionnaire Version (EDE-Q). International Journal of Eating Disorders, 25(3), 349–351. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199904)25:3<349::AID-EAT15>3.0.CO;2-M
Relevant Articles + Further Resources
We're here for you!
Do you have follow-up questions? We're here and happy to help!
Send us an email at help@blueprint-health.com or use the help messenger in the lower right corner to speak with our Support team. 💪🏼