Psychometric analysis of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R21: results from a large diverse sample of obese and non-obese participants.
BACKGROUND
The 21-item Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21) is a scale that measures three domains of eating behavior: cognitive restraint (CR), uncontrolled eating (UE) and emotional eating (EE).


OBJECTIVE
To assess the factor structure and reliability of TFEQ-R21 (and if necessary, refine the structure) in diverse populations of obese and non-obese individuals.


METHODS
Data were obtained from obese adults in a United States/Canadian clinical trial (n=1741), and overweight, obese and normal weight adults in a US web-based survey (n=1275). Confirmatory factor analyses were employed to investigate the structure of TFEQ-R21 using baseline data from the clinical trial. The model was refined to obtain adequate fit and internal consistency. The refined model was then tested using the web-based data. Relationships between TFEQ domains and body mass index (BMI) were examined in both populations.


RESULTS
Clinical data indicated that TFEQ-R21 needed refinement. Three items were removed from the CR domain, producing the revised version TFEQ-R18V2 (Comparative Fit Index (CFI)=0.91). Testing TFEQ-R18V2 in the web-based sample supported the revised structure (CFI=0.96; Cronbach's coefficient alpha of 0.78-0.94). Associations with BMI were small. In the clinical study, the CR domain showed a significant and negative association with BMI. On the basis of the web-based survey, it was shown that the relationship between BMI and CR is population-dependent (obese versus non-obese, healthy versus diabetics).


CONCLUSIONS
In two independent datasets, the TFEQ-R18V2 showed robust factor structure and good reliability. It may provide a useful tool for characterizing UE, CR and EE.
Cappelleri
J C
JC
Pfizer Inc., Global Research and Development, New London, CT 06320, USA. joseph.c.cappelleri@pfizer.com
Bushmakin
A G
AG
Gerber
R A
RA
Leidy
N K
NK
Sexton
C C
CC
Lowe
M R
MR
Karlsson
J
J
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology