Psychometric properties of the Food Craving Inventory among obese patients with binge eating disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the psychometric properties of the Food Craving Inventory [FCI; White, M. A., Whisenhunt, B. L., Williamson, D. A., Greenway, F. L., & Netemeyer, R. G. (2002). Development and validation of the food-craving inventory. Obesity Research, 10 (107-114)] in a group of obese patients with binge eating disorder (BED).


METHODS
Participants were 122 obese patients seeking treatment for BED who completed the FCI. Data from the original 28-item FCI were examined. The current study sample was then compared to a community sample of obese patients.


RESULTS
Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the 4-factor structure of the FCI. An improved model was found following the deletion of 3 items, yielding a 25-item questionnaire. Secondary analyses indicated differences in patterns of food cravings between BED patients and an obese comparison group.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study confirmed the psychometric properties of the FCI for use with a group of treatment-seeking obese patients with BED. Collectively, the results imply that obese patients with BED may crave sweets to a heightened degree relative to other food classes.
White
Marney A
MA
Eating Disorders Research Program, Yale University School of Medicine, 301 Cedar St., 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06519, United States. Marney.White@yale.edu
Grilo
Carlos M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D019422:Dietary Sucrose