Validity and Reliability of the Arabic Version of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18

Profile of maladaptive and normative eating behaviors in correlation with rumination: a cross-sectional study among Lebanese adults

BACKGROUND

Dieting is a common practice around the world. People who wish to lose weight, improve their eating habits, or reach a desired level of health often diet. Rumination, a pattern of repetitive negative thoughts and emotions, is typically found when individuals diet. The current study aimed to identify physical and psychological differences between maladaptive and normative eating behaviors in a sample from Lebanon.

METHODS

A cross-sectional design was adopted for the current study. It occurred between June and July 2022. Four hundred participants aged 18 and above participated. The research team used a snowball sampling method to recruit volunteers from all governorates of Lebanon.

RESULTS

Beta values were used to compare independent variables in order to infer those that have the strongest effect on the dependent ones. Higher Body Mass Index, and belonging to cluster 3 (restriction of food intake and rumination) and cluster 1 (maladaptive eating behavior and rumination) compared to cluster 2 (normative eating behavior and thought) were significantly related to more dieting. Higher physical activity index and belonging to cluster 3 (restriction of food intake and rumination) and cluster 1 (maladaptive eating behavior and rumination) compared to cluster 2 (normative eating behavior and thought) were significantly related to higher levels of orthorexia nervosa tendencies.

CONCLUSIONS

The current research demonstrated a relationship between Body Mass Index, physical activity, rumination, and maladaptive eating patterns including restriction of food intake, dieting, and orthorexia nervosa. These results can help with identifying physical and psychological factors associated with maladaptive eating patterns, as well as guide interventions within the Lebanese population.

Maladaptive Eating Behaviours, Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Depression Severity: A Comparative Study between Adult Women with Overweight, Obesity, and Normal Body Mass Index Range

(1) Background: Causes of obesity are multifactorial and include genetic predisposition as well as behavioural, psychological, social, and hormonal influences. We aimed to compare adult women with normal weight, overweight, and obesity, with a focus on maladaptive eating behaviours, the presence of generalised anxiety disorder, and the severity of depression. Additionally, we explored the context of anti-obesity pharmacotherapy and the status of bariatric surgery. (2) Methods: The sample was composed of 1105 adult women. The following measures, through the Computer-Assisted Web Interview (CAWI), were used in the present study: the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R18), the 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorders Scale (GAD-7), and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). (3) Results: All domains of the TFEQ-R18 had correlations with Body Mass Index (BMI). There was a weak negative association between BMI and Cognitive Restraint (r = -0.172, p < 0.001) and a weak positive relationship between BMI and Uncontrolled as well as Emotional Eating (r = 0.165, p < 0.001; r = 0.191, p < 0.001, respectively). Women who screened positive for anxiety scored lower in the Cognitive Restraint domain (10.11 ± 3.58, p = 0.042) and higher in the Uncontrolled Eating (12.69 ± 6.04, p < 0.001) and Emotional Eating (5.29 ± 2.75, p < 0.001) domains. Similarly, women screening positive for depression had lower scores in Cognitive Restraint (9.88 ± 3.61, p < 0.001) and higher scores in Uncontrolled Eating (12.64 ± 6.09, p < 0.001) and Emotional Eating (5.31 ± 2.71, p < 0.001). A significant association between liraglutide and semaglutide administration and Cognitive Restraint was observed. (4) Conclusions: Individualised treatment for obesity should consider the existing and confirmed association between maladaptive eating behaviours and generalised anxiety disorder, as well as the severity of depression influencing the BMI altogether. The use of anti-obesity pharmacotherapy needs further exploration because the evidence for the use of liraglutide and semaglutide in terms of positive associations with eating behaviours is encouraging.