Psychometric Proprieties and Validation of Self-report Measures of Eating Behaviors

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Obesity is a global epidemic and a major contributor to some of the leading causes of death. Although research on overweight and obesity is constantly increasing, to date, in the Italian panorama, there is a lack of (A) rigorous psychological measurement tools of obesity-related constructs and (B) analysis of the relationships between constructs (and indicators) involved in the development and maintenance of overweight and obesity. The present study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the main questionnaires for the assessment of eating behaviors in 3 groups of subjects (1) the general population (control group); (2) subjects with obesity without a comorbid diagnosis of an eating disorder; (3) subjects with obesity and a comorbid diagnosis of an eating disorder.

Detailed Description
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Participants were selected in the main rehabilitation centers for the treatment of obesity and eating disorders (sample of subjects with obesity) and through an online survey (community sample). The survey lasted about 30 minutes and - together with selected demographic and biomedical information - required the completion of the following self-report measures: the Binge Eating Scale (BES); the Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale version 2 (mYFAS 2.0); the Repetitive eating questionnaire (Rep-EAT); the Measure of Eating Compulsivity (MEC); the Addiction-like Eating Behavioural Scale (AEBS); the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire 18 (TFEQ-18); the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire-Short Form (EDEQ-SF); the Palatable Eating Motive Scale (PEMS); the Weight Sigma Questionnaire (WSSQ); the Emotional Eating Scale (EES); the Somatic Symptom Scale 8 (SSS8). Before administration, all questionnaires were first translated from English (their original language) to Italian by two bilingual translators, independently - then back-translated into English by another independent translator whose mother tongue was English to ensure equivalence between the translations. Following, a purposive sample of respondents was asked to fill in the final version of each measure in order to assess its items' comprehensibility. In order to avoid halo effects, the questionnaires were presented to the subject in random order. The responders could withdraw the administration at any time, and contact a psychologist independent from the study in case of perceived emotional distress.

Official Title
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Psychometric Proprieties and Validation of Self-report Measures of Eating Behaviors in Persons With Obesity and the General Population in Italy.

Conditions
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Obesity, Eating Disorders

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Questionnaire administration


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: BMI > 30 kg/m2 (clinical sample) Diagnosis of an eating disorder (clinical sample) age range 18-75 years Italian mother tongue written and informed consent to participate Exclusion Criteria: visual impairing neurological problems alcohol/drug abuse

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Community sample<br>Questionnaires administration | Other: Questionnaire administration<br>* Questionnaire administration<br>|
| Subjects with obesity and comorbid eating disorder<br>Questionnaires administration | Other: Questionnaire administration<br>* Questionnaire administration<br>|
| Subjects with obesity without comorbid eating disorder<br>Questionnaires administration | Other: Questionnaire administration<br>* Questionnaire administration<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Binge Eating | Score on the Binge Eating Scale. Each question has 3-4 separate responses assigned a numerical value. The score range is from 0-46: Non-binging; less than 17; Moderate binging; 18-26; Severe binging; 27 and greater | Baseline | 
| Food Addiction | Scored on the Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale version 2 and at the Addiction-like Eating Behavioural Scale The symptom count score, ranging from 0 to 7, that reflects the number of addiction-like criteria endorsed was applied | Baseline |