Psychometric properties of the Food Craving Inventory among obese patients with binge eating disorder

Eat Behav. 2005 Jun;6(3):239-45. doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2005.01.001. Epub 2005 Feb 12.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the Food Craving Inventory [FCI; White, M. A., Whisenhunt, B. L., Williamson, D. A., Greenway, F. L., & Netemeyer, R. G. (2002). Development and validation of the food-craving inventory. Obesity Research, 10 (107-114)] in a group of obese patients with binge eating disorder (BED).

Method: Participants were 122 obese patients seeking treatment for BED who completed the FCI. Data from the original 28-item FCI were examined. The current study sample was then compared to a community sample of obese patients.

Results: Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the 4-factor structure of the FCI. An improved model was found following the deletion of 3 items, yielding a 25-item questionnaire. Secondary analyses indicated differences in patterns of food cravings between BED patients and an obese comparison group.

Discussion: The current study confirmed the psychometric properties of the FCI for use with a group of treatment-seeking obese patients with BED. Collectively, the results imply that obese patients with BED may crave sweets to a heightened degree relative to other food classes.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Bulimia / epidemiology
  • Bulimia / psychology*
  • Bulimia / therapy
  • Dietary Sucrose / administration & dosage
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Food Preferences
  • Humans
  • Hunger*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation*
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Obesity / psychology*
  • Obesity / therapy
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychometrics / statistics & numerical data
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Statistics as Topic

Substances

  • Dietary Sucrose