What is the SCOFF questionnaire primarily used to detect?

The SCOFF questionnaire is a screening tool specifically designed for detecting eating disorders. It consists of five questions that address key behaviors and attitudes related to food, weight, and body image, which can indicate potential eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder.

The structure of the questions allows individuals to reflect on their relationships with food and their perceptions of their body. A positive response to two or more questions typically suggests a need for further assessment or intervention regarding potential eating disorders. This focus on behavioral and psychological aspects is what differentiates it from other options, such as assessing nutritional deficiencies, which would require different evaluation methods focused on nutrient intake and physical health, or measuring physical fitness levels, which would typically involve physical assessments or performance evaluation. Diet preferences are also unrelated, as they do not directly link to the clinical signs of disordered eating patterns that the SCOFF is designed to identify.