National Eating Disorders Screening Program: NMISP

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is February 22 to February 28, 2004.

What is a Screening Like?

Screenings differ depending on the settings in which they are taking place. Participating colleges and eating disorders treatment centers are encouraged to adapt the program to suit their particular atmospheres. Many campuses try to keep their screenings to the length of a college class period. However, most participating institutions utilize the materials provided by the national office and implement a program that includes an educational section with the screening. All screenings are free and anonymous. If you attend an NEDSP screening, you can expect some variation on the following:

You will enter the screening area and be given a screening questionnaire which you may choose to fill out if you wish. It will include questions about your relationship to food, exercise and your body, as well as about emotional and physical symptoms. The form is completed anonymously. You will then hear an educational presentation about eating disorders and/or a related topic such as body image, nutrition or stress and food. There will be a question/answer period following the presentation as well as an educational video about eating disorders. If you chose to complete the screening questionnaire, you will have the opportunity, following the presentation, to meet one-on-one with a health professional to discuss the results of your screening test and any other symptoms about which you may be concerned. Based on the results of your screening and your discussion with the health professional, you may be referred for a complete evaluation and provided with a list of clinicians or facilities in your area. If you are attending the screening because you are concerned about someone else, you can discuss this with the health professional and get information about how you can help your friend or family member.

There may be a place on the screening questionnaire that asks the participant to write his or her first name and phone number if he or she wishes to participate in a follow-up study. A follow-up study is undertaken for each program in order to help learn about the success of the screening program and to discover whether participants found the program useful. Participation in a follow-up study is completely voluntary and has no bearing on the screening itself.

Sample Test for Eating Disorder Screening:

Are you terrified about being overweight?
Have you gone on eating binges where you feel you may not be able to stop?
Do you feel extremely guilty after eating?
Do you vomit or have the impulse to vomit after meals?
Do you feel that food controls your life?

These questions are adapted from the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), EAT © David M. Garner & Paul E. Garfinkel (1979), David M. Garner et al., (1982).

Alcohol • Anxiety • Depression
Eating Disorders • Interactive Screening
Suicide Education and Research

Home • Awards • Donate
Calendar • Press Releases • Publications