Completing the EAT-26 yields a "referral index" based on three criteria: 1) the total score based on the answers to the EAT-26 questions; 2) answers to the behavioral questions related to eating symptoms and weight loss, and 3) the individual's body mass index (BMI) calculated from their height and weight.
The EAT was developed for a study examining possible sociocultural factors contributing to the increased prevalence of anorexia nervosa and other milder variants of the disorder.
[6] This original study examined groups of highly competitive dance students and fashion models, who by career choice must focus increased attention and control over their body shapes.
These findings were seen as support for the theory that sociocultural factors, emphasizing thinness as a marker for beauty and success for women, play a role in the increased incidence of anorexia nervosa observed in the "Twiggy era" of the 1970s and 1980s.
Accordingly, individuals who score higher than a 20 should be referred to a qualified professional to determine if they meet the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder.
If a patient is asked to fill out the form in front of other people in a clinical environment, for instance, social expectations have been shown to elicit a different response compared to administration via a postal survey.
High false-positive rates and low predictive power for screening for AN and bulimia nervosa (BN) in non-clinical settings have been reported.
[15][16] Lowering the cut-off score to 11 has been demonstrated to improve sensibility and sensitivity rates in individuals with BN, BED, and EDNOS and presents a promising solution to the aforementioned issue.