Table 1 Item-level descriptive statistics

1. I feel much guilt or self-loathing when I stray from my healthy diet

2.24 (0.84)

2 (1)

1–4

2. I care much more about the healthiness of what I eat than the pleasurable taste of food

1.88 (0.77)

2 (1)

1–4

3. As a result of the amount of time I devote to my healthy diet, I have spent less time than I used to with my family or friends

1.30 (0.59)

1 (0)

1–4

4. I follow a health-food diet rigidly, only eating what my diet allows and not allowing myself any deviations from this diet

1.39 (0.66)

1 (1)

1–4

5. My food restrictions have led me to lose more weight than people would say is good for me

1.23 (0.63)

1 (0)

1–4

6. Preparing food in the most healthful way is very important in my diet

2.44 (0.85)

2 (1)

1–4

7. My healthy eating is a significant source of stress in my relationships

1.42 (0.75)

1 (1)

1–4

8. Over time, my diet has come to include elimination of entire food groups that I believe are unhealthy

1.76 (0.89)

2 (1)

1–4

9. When I stray from my healthy diet, I can only think about what a failure I am

1.67 (0.90)

1 (1)

1–4

10. Health professionals have expressed concern that my diet is too restrictive

1.11 (0.43)

1 (0)

1–4

11. I follow a healthy diet with many rules

1.69 (0.72)

2 (1)

1–4

12. My cleanses or fasts have become more frequent or severe over time

1.12 (0.46)

1 (0)

1–4

13. Whenever I eat anything unhealthy, I feel a great sense of personal impurity

1.74 (0.87)

2 (1)

1–4

14. Even though I have eaten much healthier over time, my physical health has actually declined

1.36 (0.71)

1 (1)

1–4

15. Healthy eating is among the most important things in my life

2.00 (0.81)

2 (1)

1–4

16. As a result of the amount of time I devote to my healthy diet, I have either missed time at work or missed classes at school

1.14 (0.41)

1 (0)

1–4

17. I either do not buy processed food products or I compulsively check the nutrition labels to ensure that only healthy and pure ingredients are included

1.69 (0.76)

2 (1)

1–4

18. The number of healthy dietary rules that I follow has progressively increased over time

1.70 (0.78)

2 (1)

1–4

19. Whenever I feel sick, family or friends comment that the illness may be because my diet is too restrictive

1.18 (0.51)

1 (0)

1–4

20. While spending time with family or friends, I am frequently distracted by thoughts of eating healthily

1.33 (0.68)

1 (0)

1–4

21. Just the thought of me eating something unhealthy makes me very anxious

1.39 (0.70)

1 (1)

1–4

22. I strictly avoid all foods I feel are unhealthy

1.40 (0.64)

1 (1)

1–4

23. Feeling good about my body is completely dependent on me strictly following my healthy diet

1.72 (0.81)

2 (1)

1–4

24. The stricter I become with my diet, the more I seem to experience one or more physical symptoms such as fatigue, faintness, heart racing, nausea, diarrhea, pain, etc.

1.29 (0.63)

1 (0)

1–4