title: Development and validation of a short scale to measure how social relationships support the continuous and conscious endeavour to lose weight.
abstract: This paper reports the development of a short scale (ten items) entitled 'Social Relationships to Prevent Obesity' (SRPO), which examines how social relationships support the continuous and conscious endeavour to lose weight. The construct and criterion validity of this scale were ascertained in this study. Factor structure and reliability were examined using data from a randomized controlled trial. A confirmatory factor analysis of the SRPO revealed three relevant factors. The results suggest that the SRPO has both validity and clinical utility and can thus be used as a screening tool in weight-loss interventions and to assess the degree of, and trends in, self-control for weight loss in individuals. The scale can also be used to examine the environmental and self-control problems faced by obese people--factors that should be considered when conducting weight-loss interventions.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies,Kyoto University,Japan.
authors.forename: Akemi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.affiliation: †Department of Health Informatics, Health Administration,Kyoto University School of Public Health,Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshimitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: ‡National Institute of Population and Social Security Research,Tokyo,Japan.
authors.forename: Shuzo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.affiliation: §Department of Medical Ethics, Health Administration,Kyoto University School of Public Health,Japan.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kosugi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D003625:Data Collection; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult