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Psychometric Evaluation of the Barriers to Healthy Eating Scale: Results from Four Independent Weight Loss Studies
Author(s) -
Sun Ran,
Rohay Jeffrey M.,
Sereika Susan M.,
Zheng Yaguang,
Yu Yang,
Burke Lora E.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.22414
Subject(s) - cronbach's alpha , weight loss , convergent validity , predictive validity , psychometrics , medicine , psychology , scale (ratio) , clinical psychology , internal consistency , obesity , physics , quantum mechanics
Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the 22‐item Barriers to Healthy Eating (BHE) scale in four independent weight loss studies conducted over 13 years. Methods Principal axis factoring with promax rotation was performed to reveal the underlying factor structure. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach α, and convergent validity was assessed by correlating the baseline BHE with the Weight Efficacy Lifestyle questionnaire total and subscale scores. Predictive validity was examined by the association of BHE change with weight loss over 6 months. Results The four studies had similar gender (82.9%‐89.9% female) and race (70.5%‐81.4% white) distributions. Factor analyses suggested removal of two items and a three‐factor structure: self‐control and motivation (10 items), daily mechanics (7 items), and social support (3 items). The Cronbach α for the 20‐item BHE ranged from 0.849 to 0.881 across the four studies. The BHE and Weight Efficacy Lifestyle questionnaire total and subscale scores were all negatively correlated with each other, showing good convergent validity ( r = 0.120‐0.544, P < 0.05). BHE change was associated with weight loss from 0 to 6 months ( r = 0.282‐0.450, P < 0.05). Conclusions The BHE scale showed very good psychometric properties over time, supporting its use in measuring barriers to one’s ability to adopt or maintain a healthy eating plan.