title: Eating self-efficacy: development of a short-form WEL.
abstract: Self-efficacy for eating is an important predictor of the successful adoption and maintenance of weight management behaviors. The Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire (WEL) is a commonly used measure of eating self-efficacy consisting of 20-items and five situational factors. The aim of this study was to develop a short-form WEL (WEL-SF) for use in clinical practice and research. Factor analysis methodology was used with a sample of obese patients (N=1012) seeking weight loss treatment to develop the WEL-SF. The hypothesis was that the WEL would contain highly correlated items within the factors, and consequently could be shortened with minimal loss of clinically important information. Results revealed a one-factor solution. Given this unexpected finding, factor analysis was abandoned and alternative selection criteria were implemented. WEL-SF items were selected based upon: (1) lack of a ceiling effect for individual items, (2) high variability in patient responses, (3) lack of a strong correlation with other WEL items, (4) strong correlation with total WEL score, and (5) clinical judgment regarding importance and interpretability of individual items. These criteria resulted in an 8-item measure. The correlation between the WEL-SF total score and WEL total score was extremely strong, with a Pearson's r value of 0.968 and corresponding r(2) value of 0.937. Based on these findings, the 8-item WEL-SF appears to be a psychometrically valid measure of eating self-efficacy that accounts for 94% of the variability in the original version.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA. ames.gretchen@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Gretchen E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Ames
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Heckman
authors.forename: Karen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Grothe
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D011594:Psychometrics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss