3-FACTOR EATING QUESTIONNAIRE AND THE USE AND LIKING OF SWEET AND FATAMONG DIETERS

The aim of this study was to examine whether the cognitive restraint, disinhibition and hunger factors of the three-factor eating questionna ire (TFEQ) can differentiate between low and high use, desired use and liking of various sugar- and fat-containing foods. A questionnaire wi th items on 44 foods and the TFEQ was obtained from 253 women taking p art in weight reduction program. Principal component analysis was used to divide the foods into ten groups by their reported usage. The cogn itive restraint factor was related to the reported use of some food gr oups such as fruit-based sweet foods, butter, margarine and regular-fa t cheese, but not to the desired use or liking. High disinhibition and hunger scores were related to frequency of reported and desired use a nd to liking of several food groups (e.g., sweets, pastries served wit h coffee, fruit-based sweet foods, butter and margarine). Those scorin g highest on cognitive restraint and lowest on disinhibition and hunge r reported using all food groups less frequently than those with the l owest scores on restraint and the highest scores on disinhibition and hunger, except low-fat cheese and yogurt. These groups also differed i n the desired use and liking of most sweet foods.