The three-factor eating questionnaire in the evaluation of eating behaviour in subjects seeking participation in a dietotherapy programme

Aim: To evaluate the eating behaviour in normal-weight, overweight, and obe se women seeking participation in a diet-based programme of weight reductio n or achievement of ideal body weight. Methods: Thirty-seven obese, 42 over weight, and 14 normal-weight subjects, seen at an Italian university outpat ient clinic, were asked to complete the Stunkard and Messick three-factor e ating questionnaire (TFEQ). The TFEQ is designed to evaluate three differen t factors in eating behaviour: restraint, disinhibition, and hunger. Forty- eight mothers of children attending public primary schools (25 normal weigh t and 23 overweight) served as controls. Results: Significantly altered sco res of cognitive restraint were observed both in normal-weight and in overw eight subjects of the outpatient clinic as compared with normal-weight and overweight control women. Outpatient clinic overweight women scored signifi cantly higher in terms of disinhibition as compared with overweight control subjects. Among outpatient clinic subjects, overweight women showed higher scores of disinhibition but similar va lues of cognitive restraint as com pa red with outpatient clinic normal-weight subjects. In obese patients, th e scores of disinhibition and hunger were higher than those observed in out patient clinic normal-weight subjects, whereas values of cognitive restrain t were significantly lower. As compared with outpatient clinic overweight w omen, obese subjects showed significantly lower values of cognitive restrai nt. Conclusions: Alterations in TFEQ results are a frequent feature in subj ects seeking participation in programmes of weight reduction or ideal body weight achievement. This may reflect a possible impairment in eating behavi our. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.