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

Completed
Conditions
Eating Disorders
Obesity
Interventions
Other: Questionnaire administration
Registration Number
NCT05804292
Lead Sponsor
Istituto Auxologico Italiano
Brief Summary

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

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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
300
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

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Subjects with obesity and comorbid eating disorderQuestionnaire administrationQuestionnaires administration
Community sampleQuestionnaire administrationQuestionnaires administration
Subjects with obesity without comorbid eating disorderQuestionnaire administrationQuestionnaires administration
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Binge EatingBaseline

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

Food AddictionBaseline

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

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Istituto Auxologico Italiano

🇮🇹

Milan, Italy

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