Hunger & Fullness Awareness Scale
A gentle 1-10 hunger and fullness scale with a log for checking in before and after eating and noticing body signals and feelings.
1-page fillable PDF · US Letter (prints on A4) · Interoceptive awareness
- Approach / concern
- Body Image & Eating
- Technique
- Interoceptive awareness
- Format
- Fillable PDF, 1 page (US Letter / A4)
- Access
- Pro and Advanced plans (3-day free trial)
- For
- Licensed clinicians to use with clients
- Updated
- October 2026
Key facts
What is the Hunger & Fullness Awareness Scale?
Hunger and fullness scales help people reconnect with interoceptive cues that can be disrupted by dieting, restriction, bingeing or stress. Used as an awareness tool rather than a set of rules, they are common in intuitive eating and in later stages of eating disorder recovery.
Why it works
Restoring attunement to internal cues is a core principle of intuitive eating (Tribole & Resch, 2020). In CBT-E, regular eating is usually established first, after which awareness of hunger and fullness can be developed (Fairburn, 2008).
When to use it
- Chronic dieting and food preoccupation
- Later-stage eating disorder recovery
- Emotional eating
- Mindful eating groups
How to use it in session
- Introduce the scale as information, not rules.
- Practise rating hunger in session.
- Log before and after eating for a week.
- Explore patterns and emotions linked to eating.
- Coordinate with dietitian guidance.
Clinician tips
- Avoid using the scale to restrict (‘only eat at 2’).
- In early recovery from anorexia or bulimia, follow the regular eating plan first.
- Normalize that signals may be faint or confusing at first.
Worked example
Sharing with clients
Members can download the PDF to print or email, or copy a private client link from the download box. Your client opens the link and downloads the worksheet on any device. No client account is needed, and nothing your client writes is stored on TherapyAid.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a diet tool?
No. It’s an awareness tool that supports a respectful, non-diet relationship with food.
What if I can’t feel hunger?
That’s common after long periods of dieting or restriction. Signals often return with regular eating over time.
References
Tribole, E., & Resch, E. (2020). Intuitive eating: A revolutionary anti-diet approach (4th ed.). St. Martin’s Essentials.
Fairburn, C. G. (2008). Cognitive behavior therapy and eating disorders. Guilford Press.
This worksheet is an educational tool for use by, or under the guidance of, a licensed or registered mental-health professional. It is not a diagnostic instrument or a substitute for clinical judgement. If a client is in crisis in Canada, call or text 9-8-8 or call 9-1-1.
