Screen for Early Eating Disorder Signs (SEEDS)

The Screen for Early Eating Disorder Signs (SEEDS) is a brief self-report screening tool designed for use in clinical practice or research to identify or confirm suspected eating disorder risk. In the original version it has 20 items, in the Czech adaptation it contains 19 (item 20 was excluded because it did not correspond to the identified factors). The 19 items are divided into three factors: Body Image, which includes seven items focused on the subjective assessment of one’s own physical appearance and body weight, Feelings, which in seven items focuses on the perception of one’s own mood and stress management, and Quality of Life, which monitors satisfaction with life and the relationship with the immediate social environment (five items).

Length of filling

Filling out the entire questionnaire takes 2-5 minutes.

Individualized feedback for the respondent

After evaluating the questionnaire, the respondent will find out if he is at risk of an eating disorder, so that it is possible to start an early intervention for prevention or mitigation.

Keywords

Screen for Early Eating Disorder Signs, SEEDS, eating disorder, physical appearance, feelings, quality of life

Scoring and interpretation

The total score as well as the score for the individual subscales is obtained by adding the points for the individual items (1-7). A higher score indicates a higher risk of an eating disorder.

Response scale

Respondents answer on a seven-point Likert scale that is anchored verbally according to what the item is asking about (eg, “Very sad” (7) to “Very happy” (1)).

References

Powers, M. A., Richter, S., Ackard, D., & Craft, C. (2016). Development and validation of the Screen for Early Eating Disorder Signs (SEEDS) in persons with type 1 diabetes. Eating disorders, 24(3), 271–288. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2015.1090866

Screen for Early Eating Disorder Signs (SEEDS). (2019). Health Partner Institute. https://www.healthpartners.com/institute/wp-content/en/uploads/2019/11/SEEDS_Background_Info.pdf

Sikorová, L., & Valiašková, T. (2020). Psychometric properties of the Czech version of the tool – screening for early eating disorder signs (SEEDS-CZ). Cent Eur J Nurs Midw, 11(3), 105-112. 10.15452/cejnm.2020.11.0016