Binge Eating Scale (BES)

What Is the Binge Eating Scale?

The BES measures how severe binge eating has become — not just how much you eat, but how it feels before, during, and after. It looks at behaviors (eating large amounts, eating quickly) alongside the emotions that come with them: guilt, shame, loss of control.

Gormally, Black, Daston, and Rardin created the 16-item scale in 1982, drawing from clinical observations of people seeking obesity treatment. Each item presents 3–4 statements at different severity levels — you pick the one that fits best. Scoring is unusual: rather than a uniform scale, each item has its own weighted response options.

Scoring

• 0–16: Low binge eating. Minimal or no symptoms.
• 17–26: Moderate binge eating. May include occasional loss of control and guilt.
• 27–46: Severe binge eating. Frequent, intense symptoms consistent with binge eating disorder (BED).

Higher total scores indicate more severe binge-eating symptoms (Duarte et al., 2015).

Psychometric Properties

The BES shows good internal consistency (α = .80–.90) and test-retest reliability (ICC = .83 over one month). It correlates strongly with the EDE-Q eating disorder examination (r = .60–.80) and moderately with BMI, depression, and emotional eating (Duarte et al., 2015).

Disclaimer

The BES is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. A high score suggests the need for a professional evaluation, but does not by itself confirm a diagnosis of binge eating disorder.