From Consensus to Innovation: Advancing the Science of Eating-Disorder Measurement.

Abstract

This commentary is a response to the article written by Reilly et al. (2025). The authors discuss the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE), asserting that critiques of the EDE reflect a larger assessment issue within the field. Their solutions were centered on establishing consensus regarding assessment goals, guidelines, and decision-making frameworks. We propose that to move the field forward, assessment efforts strive for the ambitious and necessary goal of creating an omnibus tool that comprehensively captures the full spectrum of eating-disorder presentations. Our arguments are grounded in three key points: (1) there is a pressing need to apply evidence-based approaches in scale development; (2) the EDE's widespread use does not warrant its continued endorsement; and (3) it is essential for the field to critically examine the consequences of continued reliance on the EDE. We provide illustrative examples from other fields in which newer measures were developed and widely adopted, leading to improvements in those fields. We call on the field to embrace curiosity and continuous learning in the pursuit of more rigorous measurement. Advancing scale development practices will enhance our understanding of what constitutes eating-disorder psychopathology and also improve quality-of-care.