title: Age- and gender-specific norms for the German version of the Three-Factor Eating-Questionnaire (TFEQ).
abstract: The 'Fragebogen zum Essverhalten' (FEV) is the German version of the Three-factor-Eating-Questionnaire (TFEQ). This questionnaire covers three domains of eating behaviour ('cognitive restraint', 'disinhibition' and 'hunger') as well as common problems (e.g. craving for sweets). So far, there is a lack of normative data of the FEV especially for the middle-aged and older population. Aim of this study therefore was to provide age- and gender-specific norms of the FEV for the general population aged 40-79 years. We studied 3144 participants of the ongoing large community-based Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases (LIFE) Health Care Study. We provided age- (four age groups: 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70-79 years) and gender-specific percentile ranks and T-scores for the three domains of the FEV as well as age- and gender-specific frequencies of the common problems in eating behaviour. Females scored significantly higher than males in all three domains of the FEV (p < 0.001). Older individuals showed significantly higher mean scores than the younger ones in the domain of cognitive restraint, but lower mean scores in disinhibition and hunger (p < 0.001). 45.1% of the males and 69.9% of the females reported specific problems in eating. The main problem in both genders was craving for sweets (38.6%). Eating in response to stress was mostly reported in younger individuals. The present study offers current normative data for the FEV in the middle-aged and older general population that can be applied in clinical and non-clinical settings. Information on eating behaviour can be helpful in understanding body weight modulation, and thus, may help to improve interventive and preventive programmes for overweight, obesity, and eating disorders.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, Leipzig 04103, Germany; LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Universität Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, Leipzig 04103, Germany. Electronic address: antje.loeffler@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Löffler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, Leipzig 04103, Germany; LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Universität Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Luck
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, Leipzig 04103, Germany; LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Universität Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Francisca S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Then
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luppa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Leipzig University Medical Center, IFB Adiposity Diseases, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 21, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sikorski
authors.affiliation: Leipzig University Medical Center, IFB Adiposity Diseases, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 21, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.affiliation: Leipzig University Medical Center, IFB Adiposity Diseases, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 21, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tönjes
authors.affiliation: Leipzig University Medical Center, IFB Adiposity Diseases, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 21, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Böttcher
authors.affiliation: Leipzig University Medical Center, IFB Adiposity Diseases, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 21, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breitfeld
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstraße 1a, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horstmann
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMISE), University of Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, Leipzig 04107, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Löffler
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology (IMISE), University of Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, Leipzig 04107, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 27 b, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thiery
authors.affiliation: Leipzig University Medical Center, IFB Adiposity Diseases, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 21, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stumvoll
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Steffi G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Riedel-Heller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D066249:Craving; D004032:Diet; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D005783:Gender Identity; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000068356:Self-Control; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose
keywords: Cognitive restraint; Disinhibition; Eating behaviour; Eating disorders; Normative data; Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire