Beliefs regarding the consequences of obesity and ideal weight: an instrument development study.

OBJECTIVE

To address the current lack of psychometrically sound measures of beliefs regarding the consequences of obesity and ideal weight that has limited research to-date.

METHODS

In phase one, interviews with 22 healthy-weight, overweight and obese individuals were conducted, subjected to theme analysis and used to develop 40 items. In phase two, unsound items were removed following item and principal components analyses of data from a community sample of 188 participants. In phase three, the items selected in phase two were administered to a second workforce population (n=302) to ensure their excellent psychometric properties were stable. In phase four, data were collected from 104 obese clinic attendees to establish the subscales' construct validity.

RESULTS

The resultant Obesity Beliefs Scale (OBS) is comprised of three short, reliable, unidimensional and valid subscales written in language suitable for individuals aged 12 years and above.

CONCLUSION

The OBS is a psychometrically sound measure of beliefs regarding the consequences obesity and ideal weight.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The OBS has the potential to play a key role in prospective research designed to fully determine the role of beliefs in weight control behaviour. It can also be used to target and assess health education interventions.