EDI (Eating Disorder Inventory)

Garner and co-workers worked out the test of EDI (1983). The Previously applied tests were focusing on the behavioural symptoms of eating disorders. They did not deal with psychological features. EDI is a self-report questionnaire based on the multi-dimensional approach of eating disorders. The aspects of the emotional issue are emphasized (Túry, et al, 1997). The Hungarian version was validated by F. Túry and his co-workers (Addictions 5:336-342, 1997).

“EDI is a self report based on the Likert type scales consisting of 64 questions. The cognitive and emotional factors of eating habits are evaluated within 8 scales. They are the followings: bulimia, being dissatisfied with body image, feeling dissatisfaction, perfectionism, interpersonal uncertainty, interoceptive exposure, anxiety over becoming adult. The first three scales measure attitudes/behaviours toward eating and shape of the body while the other 5 factors collect data in connection with personal traits in case of anorexia nervosa” (Túry and et al, 1997). The first subscale focuses on excessive body centeredness reflecting continuous anxiety. The second scale pinpoints those tendencies which urge overeating followed by indicated vomiting. The third scale reflects disappointment with some parts of a body. The fourth one measures general dissatisfaction and feeling of worthlessness as well as the lack of effectiveness of a personality. The fifth shows excessive expectation of perfection. The sixth scale emphasizes the feeling of alienation. The seventh refers to the perception of being emotionally uncertain and the last one looks at the issues that the interviewee would like to become a child again as he/she finds depressing the expectations of adulthood (Túry and et al, 1997).

The answers for the Linkert scales are: always, generally, sometime, rarely, never. The most pathological answers “always” or “never” offer 3 points, and then two points and the other 3 answers are evaluated with 0. The overall score of subscales is based on the answers to the questions (Túry and et al, 1997). When the first three scales of EDI test are higher very likely patients suffer from eating disorders.

Points showing pathological symptoms indicate the use of subscales. It is not needed to introduce pathological borderline in the other scales which measure personality traits. Generally the following points are used: thinness 14 points, bulimia 14 points, being disappointed over body 21 points (Túry and et al, 1997). If points are higher than the above listed ones in any of the first 3 scales it refers to eating disorders.

Originally EDI questionnaire was designed for average people. It would be worth working out such a series of scales which would focus on habits within sports and they should take into consideration level of difficulty, requirements of sports and the shape of the body being different from people not doing ports.