SCOFF questionnaire
Also written as: SCOFF — Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, Food
A five-question screening tool used to identify potential eating disorders in adolescents and young adults.
Full Definition
The SCOFF questionnaire is a brief, validated screening instrument consisting of five yes/no questions designed to detect eating disorders in clinical settings. The acronym stands for Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, and Food, representing the key areas each question addresses. Two or more positive responses indicate a likelihood of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa and warrant further assessment. It is particularly useful in adolescent medicine due to its brevity and ease of administration during routine clinical encounters.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize all letters when referring to the acronym; use lowercase when writing out the full meaning.
In Context
- "The SCOFF questionnaire was administered during the annual wellness visit to screen for eating disorder symptoms." — Preventive care documentation
- "A positive SCOFF screen prompted referral to the adolescent eating disorder specialist." — Referral letter