Binge Eating Scale
The Binge Eating Scale asks the person to choose one statement in each of 16 groups. The weighted total runs from 0 to 46. It is not a diagnosis of binge-eating disorder.
Overview
What is the BES?
BES organises binge-eating-related concerns for clinician review. It is not a diagnostic interview and does not replace medical or eating-disorder assessment.
Development and clinical use
Gormally, Black, Daston and Rardin published the Binge Eating Scale in 1982. Statement text follows the psychology-tools page and weights follow the NovoPsych key. Score categories are those quoted from Marcus, Wing and Hopkins.
- Catalogue status
- Educational entry
- Production scoring
- Not independently verified
- Mode
- self-report
- Typical use
- Clinician-reviewed intake
- Clinical role
- Binge-eating screening support
Administration
A focused client experience
BES is completed as a focused self-report and stored for clinician review. This public page does not collect answers or return a score.
- One question at a time with visible progress
- Large keyboard-operable response choices
- Previous, next, and answer-review steps
- Clear confirmation that results go to the clinic
The illustration shows layout only. It does not reproduce BES item wording.
Report showcase
Designed to make evidence easy to review
The downloadable synthetic example illustrates report layout using invented response patterns, without patient data or instrument questions.
- Named instrument, version, and provenance
- Item-level response pattern without source wording
- Methodology, references, and clinical boundary
- Responsible clinician review rather than automated conclusions
Clinician review required
Methodology
Understand the measure and its scoring conventions
Each of the 16 groups asks for the one statement that best describes how the person feels about controlling their eating. Statements are weighted 0 to 3 on the published key, and the total is their sum, from 0 to 46. Published score categories are 0 to 17 absent or minimal binge eating, 18 to 26 mild to moderate binge eating, and 27 to 46 severe binge eating. These categories are not a diagnosis.
References
- Original BES paperGormally J, Black S, Daston S, Rardin D. The assessment of binge eating severity among obese persons. Addict Behav. 1982;7(1):47-55.
- Statement textPsychology Tools. Binge Eating Scale.
- Published weightsNovoPsych. Binge Eating Scale (BES).
- Score categoriesMarcus MD, Wing RR, Hopkins J. Obese binge eaters: affect, cognitions, and response to behavioral weight control. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1988;56(3):433-439, as quoted in PMC4874331.
Questions
What clinics ask before they evaluate the BES
These answers stay inside educational catalogue scope. They do not replace official manuals or clinician judgement.
Does BES diagnose binge-eating disorder?
No. It is a self-report scale. Diagnosis remains a clinician task.
Can I complete BES here?
No. This page does not collect answers.
Is BES the same as YFAS?
No. YFAS addresses food-addiction-related constructs. BES is a binge-eating scale.
What does a total of 27 or higher mean?
The published category is severe binge eating. It is a score category, not a diagnosis.