Binge Eating Test – Binge Eating Scale (BES)

Background

The Binge Eating Scale (BES) is a self-report questionnaire developed by Gormally, Black, Daston, and Rardin in 1982 to help measure the severity of binge eating behaviors and eating-related emotional difficulties. It was originally created to better understand patterns of overeating among individuals struggling with obesity and unhealthy eating habits. The assessment examines thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connected to food, including emotional eating, food cravings, loss of control while eating, guilt after overeating, secretive eating, and difficulty recognizing hunger or fullness cues. Many people may occasionally overeat, but this scale focuses on repeated behaviors and emotional struggles that may interfere with daily life, self-esteem, physical health, or emotional well-being. The BES is commonly used for screening, research, and self-awareness purposes. It is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, but it may help identify eating patterns that could benefit from healthier coping strategies, lifestyle changes, supportive conversations, or professional guidance.

Procedure

Read each group of statements carefully and choose the one statement that best describes your usual experiences, feelings, or eating behaviors. There are no right or wrong answers. Try to answer honestly based on how you normally feel and behave around food and eating situations.

Participation

This assessment is designed for adults and older teenagers who want to better understand their eating habits, emotional eating patterns, food cravings, and possible binge eating behaviors. Participation is voluntary, and responses should reflect your real experiences as accurately as possible.

Scoring & Interpretation

Higher scores indicate greater binge eating related distress, loss of control, emotional eating tendencies, and problematic eating behaviors.

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Translations

Binge Eating Scale (BES) is provided in English version only.

Sources

1. Gormally J, Black S, Daston S, Rardin D. The assessment of binge eating severity among obese persons. Addictive Behaviors. 1982.