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Food Addiction Scale: Online Self-Assessment

Concerned about your relationship with food? Based on the clinically-validated Yale Food Addiction Scale, this questionnaire provides you with science-backed insight into your eating patterns in just a few minutes.

Start the Test What is YFAS 2.0?
Silhouette of a human head constructed from sugar cubes.

Do Certain Foods Feel Impossible to Resist?

You're not alone. Many people struggle with a complex relationship with food that goes beyond simple cravings. If you find yourself repeatedly eating more than intended, feeling unable to stop, or continuing despite negative consequences, this scientifically-validated assessment can help you understand what's happening.

These patterns often centre around highly palatable foods designed to be irresistible:

  • Sweet treats
    • ice cream
    • chocolate
    • cookies
  • Refined carbs
    • white bread
    • pastries
    • pasta
  • Salty snacks
    • crisps (chips)
    • pretzels
    • crackers
  • Fast food
    • pizza
    • burgers
    • French fries
  • Sugary drinks
    • soft drinks
    • energy drinks
    • sweet tea & coffee

When answering the questionnaire, consider any foods or drinks similar to those listed above, as well as others you've found challenging to moderate.

Understanding the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0

This screening test uses the Yale Food Addiction Scale Version 2.0 (YFAS 2.0), a clinically-validated tool that evaluates eating behaviours based on the same criteria used to diagnose substance use disorders in the DSM-5.

The 11 DSM-5 Criteria Assessed

The questionnaire evaluates whether you experience patterns such as:

  • Loss of control: Eating more than intended or being unable to cut down
  • Cravings: Intense urges or desires for certain foods
  • Continued use despite consequences: Eating despite physical or emotional harm
  • Tolerance: Needing increasing amounts to achieve satisfaction
  • Withdrawal: Experiencing negative symptoms when cutting back

...and 6 additional clinically-significant criteria.

How Results Are Calculated

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Symptom Count

Number of criteria met

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Clinical Significance

Whether patterns cause distress or impairment

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Diagnosis Category

None, Mild, Moderate, or Severe

You're not alone: Analysis of over 2,690 responses shows an average symptom count of 4.7 out of 11, with 48.1% meeting the threshold for clinical significance. These patterns are more common than many realise.

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Want to Learn More First?

Read our comprehensive guide on how YFAS 2.0 works, what causes addictive-like eating, and how to interpret your results.

Read the Full Article
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See Example Results

Preview what your results page will look like with our example.

View example →
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Explore the Data

Discover broader trends and patterns from responses worldwide.

View analytics →
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Need Support?

If you have concerns about eating habits or suspect an eating disorder.

Find resources →
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Looking for the Official YFAS 2.0 PDF?

The original research paper (YFAS 2.0; Gearhardt, Corbin, & Brownell, 2016) and downloadable materials (including Excel scoring sheets) are available from the University of Michigan FAST Lab.

Visit Official YFAS Resources

Prefer the easy way? Use our online version – instant results, no calculations required.

What to Expect

⏱️ 5 minutes

35 questions

🔒 Anonymous

No personal details required

📊 Instant

See your results immediately

🔗 Shareable

Get a dedicated results page

Important: This is a screening tool based on clinically-validated criteria. Results indicate whether your eating patterns align with food addiction symptoms, but only a healthcare professional can provide a clinical diagnosis.

When answering the following questions, please consider any foods or drinks similar to those listed above, as well as others you've found challenging to moderate.

In the last 12 months: When I started to eat certain foods, I ate much more than planned.
In the last 12 months: I continued to eat certain foods even though I was no longer hungry.
In the last 12 months: I ate to the point where I felt physically ill.
In the last 12 months: I worried a lot about cutting down on certain types of food, but I ate them anyway.
In the last 12 months: I spent a lot of time feeling sluggish or tired from overeating.
In the last 12 months: I spent a lot of time eating certain foods throughout the day.
In the last 12 months: When certain foods were not available, I went out of my way to get them. For example, I went to the store to get certain foods even though I had other things to eat at home.
In the last 12 months: I ate certain foods so often or in such large amounts that I stopped doing other important things. These things may have been working or spending time with family or friends.
In the last 12 months: I had problems with my family or friends because of how much I overate.
In the last 12 months: I avoided work, school or social activities because I was afraid I would overeat there.
In the last 12 months: When I cut down on or stopped eating certain foods, I felt irritable, nervous or sad.
In the last 12 months: If I had physical symptoms because I hadn't eaten certain foods, I would eat those foods to feel better.
In the last 12 months: If I had emotional problems because I hadn't eaten certain foods, I would eat those foods to feel better.
In the last 12 months: When I cut down on or stopped eating certain foods, I had physical symptoms. For example, I had headaches or fatigue.
In the last 12 months: When I cut down or stopped eating certain foods, I had strong cravings for them.
In the last 12 months: My eating behavior caused me a lot of distress.
In the last 12 months: I had significant problems in my life because of food and eating. These may have been problems with my daily routine, work, school, friends, family, or health.
In the last 12 months: I felt so bad about overeating that I didn't do other important things. These things may have been working or spending time with family or friends.
In the last 12 months: My overeating got in the way of me taking care of my family or doing household chores.
In the last 12 months: I avoided work, school or social functions because I could not eat certain foods there.
In the last 12 months: I avoided social situations because people wouldn't approve of how much I ate.
In the last 12 months: I kept eating in the same way even though my eating caused emotional problems.
In the last 12 months: I kept eating the same way even though my eating caused physical problems.
In the last 12 months: Eating the same amount of food did not give me as much enjoyment as it used to.
In the last 12 months: I really wanted to cut down on or stop eating certain kinds of foods, but I just couldn't.
In the last 12 months: I needed to eat more and more to get the feelings I wanted from eating. This included reducing negative emotions like sadness or increasing pleasure.
In the last 12 months: I didn't do well at work or school because I was eating too much.
In the last 12 months: I kept eating certain foods even though I knew it was physically dangerous. For example, I kept eating sweets even though I had diabetes. Or I kept eating fatty foods despite having heart disease.
In the last 12 months: I had such strong urges to eat certain foods that I couldn't think of anything else.
In the last 12 months: I had such intense cravings for certain foods that I felt like I had to eat them right away.
In the last 12 months: I tried to cut down on or not eat certain kinds of food, but I wasn't successful.
In the last 12 months: I tried and failed to cut down on or stop eating certain foods.
In the last 12 months: I was so distracted by eating that I could have been hurt (e.g., when driving a car, crossing the street, operating machinery).
In the last 12 months: I was so distracted by thinking about food that I could have been hurt (e.g., when driving a car, crossing the street, operating machinery).
In the last 12 months: My friends or family were worried about how much I overate.
Optional Information

The following questions are optional and help us better understand patterns in food addiction. Your answers remain anonymous.

Calculate Your BMI (Optional)

Body Mass Index helps us understand the relationship between weight and food addiction patterns.

e.g., 175 or 175.5
e.g., 70 or 70.5