Norms for the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) Among High School and University Men

Abstract

This study aimed to establish normative and reliability data for the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) in a sample of high school and university men. A total of 250 men aged 15 to 30 years (mean = 19.7; SD = 2.3) with an average BMI of 23.1 (SD = 3.1) were administered the EDE-Q. Mean global EDE-Q was 0.44 (SD = 0.52), with subscale means ranging from 0.15 (SD = 0.38) for eating concern to 0.70 (SD = 0.81) for shape concern. EDE-Q scores among this non-clinical sample of normal-weight young men were significantly, and almost invariably, lower than similarly aged young women. The EDE-Q performed less reliably among men than women, and this is an important caveat. Owing to the overall pattern of low item endorsement, reliance upon this single instrument is unlikely to provide a comprehensive assessment of shape, weight, and eating concerns among normal-weight young men in the community.