Development and Validity of the Disordered Eating Attitude Scale (Deas)

Las actitudes alimentarias pueden ser definidas como creencias, pensamientos, sentimientos, comportamientos y relación con la comida. Conductas alimentarias disfuncionales y comportamientos de riesgo para trastornos de la alimentación pueden presentarse en la población joven femenina – como en estudiantes universitarios - y ambos pueden impactar su calidad de vida. Objetivo: Este estudio evaluó las actitudes alimentarias en una muestra de estudiantes universitarias en Brasil con comportamientos de riesgo para trastornos alimentarios y examino la correlación entre actitudes alimentarias y comportamientos de riesgo para trastornos de la conducta alimentaria. Método: Estudiantes en Brasil del sexo femenino, 2489, respondieron al “Disordered Eating Attitude Scale (DEAS) - para evaluar actitudes alimentarías - y al “Eating Attitude Test” (EAT-26). Aquellas que tuvieron puntuación ≥ 21 en el EAT-26 fueron definidas como EAT+ (con comportamientos de riesgo para trastornos alimentarios). Las puntuaciones de DEAS (totales y sus cinco sub-escalas) de estudiantes EAT+ fueron comparados con las puntuaciones de DEAS con estudiantes con EAT- (sin comportamientos de riesgo para trastornos alimentarios) utilizando la prueba “t Student”. La correlación de los DEAS (total y sus cinco sub-escalas) y las puntuaciones EAT-26 fueron evaluadas utilizando el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson. Resultados: De la muestra total 26.1% presentó comportamiento de riesgo para trastornos de alimentación y los estudiantes EAT+ presentaron peores actitudes alimentarías (puntuación DEAS 80.2 + 18.4) que los estudiantes EAT- (puntuación DEAS 59.0 + 11.8). Puntuaciones EAT-26 estuvieron correlacionadas positivamente con las puntuaciones DEAS. Conclusión: La población de estudiantes femeninas Brasileñas con riesgo de desarrollo de un trastorno de la alimentación presentó peores creencias, sentimientos, comportamientos y relación con la comida. Se puede decir que evaluar actitudes alimentarías e intervenir apropiadamente en intervenciones nutricionales y de salud pueden ayudar a prevenir comportamientos de trastornos alimentarios.

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Psychometric evaluation of the Disordered Eating Attitude Scale (DEAS). English version

Appetite ◽

10.1016/j.appet.2010.07.003 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 55 (2) ◽

pp. 374-376 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Marle Santos Alvarenga ◽

Raquel Franzini Pereira ◽

Fernanda Baeza Scagliusi ◽

Sonia Tucunduva Philippi ◽

Camilla Chermont Prochnik Estima ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disordered Eating ◽

Psychometric Evaluation ◽

Attitude Scale ◽

Eating Attitude ◽

English Version

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Disordered eating among Brazilian female college students

Cadernos de Saúde Pública ◽

10.1590/s0102-311x2013000500006 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 879-888 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Marle dos Santos Alvarenga ◽

Bárbara Hatzlhoffer Lourenço ◽

Sonia Tucunduva Philippi ◽

Fernanda Baeza Scagliusi

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Positive Association ◽

Attitude Scale ◽

Eating Attitude ◽

Female College Students ◽

Disordered Eating Behaviors ◽

Female College ◽

Attitude Test

This study aimed to investigate the socioeconomic and nutritional factors associated with disordered eating among Brazilian female college students (n = 2,489). Prevalence ratios of risk factors were calculated using Poisson regression models with robust variance based on responses to selected questions from the Eating Attitude Test and Disordered Eating Attitude Scale. It was found that 40.7% of students were dieting, 35.6% were using diet or compensatory methods, 23.9% skipping meals, 12.6% not eating or just drinking liquids, and 3.3%, vomiting to lose weight. A positive association was found between not eating or just drinking liquids and skipping meals and nutritional status after adjustment for age and region. A positive association was found between compensatory methods and dieting and education level of the head of the family. Disordered eating behaviors were frequent, and not eating and skipping meals were more prevalent among overweight/obese students; compensatory methods and dieting were less prevalent among students from families whose head had up to only four years of education. Prevention strategies and food education are necessary in order to decrease the prevalence of these behaviors.

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Disordered Eating Attitude Scale

PsycTESTS Dataset ◽

10.1037/t68994-000 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Marle dos Santos Alvarenga ◽

Fernanda Baeza Scagliusi ◽

Sonia Tucunduva Philippi

Keyword(s):

Disordered Eating ◽

Attitude Scale ◽

Eating Attitude

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Actitudes alimentarias de estudiantes universitarias brasileñas con conductas de riesgo en desorden alimentario

Journal of Behavior Health & Social Issues ◽

10.5460/jbhsi.v2.1.20411 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 47 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marle Dos Santos Alvarenga ◽

Fernanda Baeza Scagliusi ◽

Sonia Tucunduva Philippi

Keyword(s):

Disordered Eating ◽

Attitude Scale ◽

Eating Attitude ◽

Calidad De Vida ◽

Eating Attitude Test ◽

Attitude Test ◽

Eat 26 ◽

Estudiantes Universitarios

Las actitudes alimentarias pueden ser definidas como creencias, pensamientos, sentimientos, comportamientos y relación con la comida. Conductas alimentarias disfuncionales y comportamientos de riesgo para trastornos de la alimentación pueden presentarse en la población joven femenina – como en estudiantes universitarios - y ambos pueden impactar su calidad de vida. Objetivo: Este estudio evaluó las actitudes alimentarias en una muestra de estudiantes universitarias en Brasil con comportamientos de riesgo para trastornos alimentarios y examino la correlación entre actitudes alimentarias y comportamientos de riesgo para trastornos de la conducta alimentaria. Método: Estudiantes en Brasil del sexo femenino, 2489, respondieron al “Disordered Eating Attitude Scale (DEAS) - para evaluar actitudes alimentarías - y al “Eating Attitude Test” (EAT-26). Aquellas que tuvieron puntuación ≥ 21 en el EAT-26 fueron definidas como EAT+ (con comportamientos de riesgo para trastornos alimentarios). Las puntuaciones de DEAS (totales y sus cinco sub-escalas) de estudiantes EAT+ fueron comparados con las puntuaciones de DEAS con estudiantes con EAT- (sin comportamientos de riesgo para trastornos alimentarios) utilizando la prueba “t Student”. La correlación de los DEAS (total y sus cinco sub-escalas) y las puntuaciones EAT-26 fueron evaluadas utilizando el coeficiente de correlación de Pearson. Resultados: De la muestra total 26.1% presentó comportamiento de riesgo para trastornos de alimentación y los estudiantes EAT+ presentaron peores actitudes alimentarías (puntuación DEAS 80.2 + 18.4) que los estudiantes EAT- (puntuación DEAS 59.0 + 11.8). Puntuaciones EAT-26 estuvieron correlacionadas positivamente con las puntuaciones DEAS. Conclusión: La población de estudiantes femeninas Brasileñas con riesgo de desarrollo de un trastorno de la alimentación presentó peores creencias, sentimientos, comportamientos y relación con la comida. Se puede decir que evaluar actitudes alimentarías e intervenir apropiadamente en intervenciones nutricionales y de salud pueden ayudar a prevenir comportamientos de trastornos alimentarios.

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Item Response Theory-based validation of a short form of the Disordered Eating Attitude Scale (DEAS-s) to a Brazilian sample

Cadernos de Saúde Pública ◽

10.1590/0102-311x00169919 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Marle dos Santos Alvarenga ◽

Thanise Sabrina Souza Santos ◽

Dalton Andrade

Keyword(s):

Item Response Theory ◽

Item Response ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Root Mean Square ◽

Attitude Scale ◽

Eating Attitudes ◽

Eating Attitude ◽

Short Version ◽

Mean Square ◽

Response Theory

This study aimed to validate a short version of the Disordered Eating Attitude Scale (DEAS-s). To this end, 2,902 adult individuals answered the original DEAS and informed age, weight, and height. Data were analyzed using the full-information factor analysis and Item Response Theory (IRT) analysis. Exclusion criteria retained items with adequate values of commonality and factor loadings. Estimation of IRT parameters, the Item Characteristic Curve (ICC), and test information guided the selection of the best quality items. The final model adjustment was evaluated using Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMSR), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI). The eating attitudes on each level of DEAS-s were described. The analyses were performed on R software and Microsoft Excel version 2013. As results, six items were excluded because of the low communalities and factor loadings, and one more was excluded because of an overlapping on the ICC. The remaining 17 items explained 0.53 of the total variance and had an adequate goodness-of-fit (RMSEA = 0.05; SRMSR = 0.05; CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.98). The information test is more accurate between the scores 0 and +3. Scores higher or equal to 1.5 identified individuals with disordered eating attitudes. Women, older individuals, and those with a higher body mass index presented more disordered eating; thus, the one-dimensional and short version of DEAS showed a suitable adjustment and may contribute to properly evaluate disordered eating in diverse populations.

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Atitudes em relação ao corpo e à alimentação de pacientes com anorexia e bulimia nervosa

Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/0047-2085000000001 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 63 (1) ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Aline Cavalcante de Souza ◽

Fernanda Pisciolaro ◽

Viviane Ozores Polacow ◽

Táki Athanássios Cordás ◽

Marle dos Santos Alvarenga

Keyword(s):

Bulimia Nervosa ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Attitude Scale ◽

Eating Attitude ◽

Attitude Questionnaire ◽

Body Attitude

Objetivo: Avaliar como se relacionam as atitudes alimentares e corporais de pacientes com anorexia ou bulimia nervosa. Métodos: Pacientes adultas de um ambulatório especializado, com diagnóstico de anorexia (n = 48) ou bulimia nervosa (n = 58), responderam à Disordered Eating Attitude Scale (DEAS) para avaliação das atitudes alimentares e ao Body Attitude Questionnaire (BAQ) para atitudes corporais – ambos traduzidos e validados para mulheres jovens do Brasil. A correlação entre os escores da DEAS e do BAQ foi avaliada utilizando o coeficiente de Pearson. Modelos de regressão linear testaram preditores para atitudes alimentares e corporais. Resultados: Pacientes com bulimia apresentam relação com o alimento mais disfuncional – subescala 1 da DEAS (p < 0,001) e piores atitudes corporais (BAQ total e cinco fatores). Correlações entre a DEAS e BAQ foram mais fortes para a anorexia do que para bulimia e houve forte correlação (r > 0,6) para ambas apenas quando se analisou a relação com o alimento e o sentir-se gorda e entre atitudes corporais como um todo e a relação com o alimento. O escore total da DEAS foi preditor da BAQ total: cada um ponto na DEAS aumenta 0,788 na BAQ (R2 = 0,628). Conclusão: Pacientes com bulimia apresentam pior relação com o alimento e piores atitudes corporais. As atitudes corporais se correlacionaram com as atitudes alimentares, de maneira mais forte para pacientes com anorexia; atitudes alimentares mais disfuncionais predizem pior relação com o corpo para ambos os diagnósticos.

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Validation of the Disordered Eating Attitude Scale for adolescents

Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/0047-2085000000101 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 65 (1) ◽

pp. 36-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Marle S. Alvarenga ◽

Priscila Koritar ◽

Vanessa D. Pinzon ◽

Manoela Figueiredo ◽

Bacy Fleitlich-Bilyk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Attitude Scale ◽

Eating Attitudes ◽

Eating Attitude ◽

Retest Reliability ◽

Eat 26 ◽

Test Retest Reliability

ABSTRACT Objective To perform the psychometric evaluation of the Disordered Eating Attitude Scale (DEAS) for adolescents. Methods Sample consisted of 1,119 Brazilian adolescents (12-18 years old; 59.6% female) studying at technical schools in São Paulo state-Brazil, who answered an online survey with the DEAS, the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26), and the Restraint Scale (RS). The internal consistency of the DEAS was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. The convergent validity of DEAS was evaluated by means of Pearson’s coefficient correlation with EAT-26 and RS. The test-retest reliability was evaluated using a sub-sample of 61 adolescents. Known-groups validity was determined by comparing female student mean scores with scores of 33 female adolescents with eating disorders. Results The reliability of the DEAS was 0.79. EAT-26 and RS scores were positively correlated with DEAS scores (EAT: 0.78 for females and 0.59 for males, p < 0.001; RS: 0.63 for females and 0.48 for males, p < 0.001). The DEAS total and subscale scores differentiated students and patients with eating disorders (p < 0.001). The intra-class correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability was 0.87. Conclusion Results indicate that the DEAS adolescent version showed good internal consistency, convergent validity, known-groups validity, and test-retest reliability, suggesting its potential in identifying disordered eating attitudes among adolescents. It could also be helpful in identifying adolescents at risk from eating disorders, assisting in prevention programs.

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Suicidal Ideation Amongst Adolescent Suffering from Disordered Eating: The Young-HUNT Study

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.278 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S88-S89

Author(s):

F. Saeedzadeh Sardahaee ◽

T. Lingaas Holmen ◽

N. Micali ◽

K. Kvaløy

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Eating Attitude ◽

Control Group ◽

Case Group ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Poor Appetite

IntroductionSuicide takes a great toll on both individuals and societies. Successful preventive measures would require a careful understanding of the scope of suicidal ideation as well as its associated factors. Amongst mental disorders, anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate due to suicide.Objective and aimsStudying the prevalence of suicidal ideation and its associated factors in adolescents (13–19 years old) affected by disordered eating (DE).MethodsLogistic regression was employed to study associations between suicidal ideation and age, gender and disordered eating in adolescents from a population-based prospective study, The Young-HUNT 3 cohort, 2006-8. DE cases were defined using the self-reported questionnaire (Eating Attitude Test-7) and then grouped into two subscales, poor appetite/under-eating and uncontrolled appetite/overeating.ResultsA total of 3933(boys 49% and 51% girls) were included. In total, 177 poor appetite/under-eating and 365 uncontrolled appetite/overeating cases were identified. Prevalence of suicidal ideation was 24.5% in total sample with girls being more affected (27.1%). Prevalence of suicidal ideation amongst poor appetite/under-eating case group and uncontrolled appetite/overeating cases was respectively 43.5 and 39.2%. The odds-ratio of suicidal ideation amongst poor appetite/under-eating cases compared to control group was 2.56 (95% CI, 1.85 to 3.42, P-value < 0.001) whilst the odds-ratio of suicidal ideation amongst uncontrolled appetite/overeating cases compared to control group was 2.19 (95% CI, 1.75 to 2.74, P-value < 0.001). Results remained significant after adjusting for anxiety and depression symptoms.ConclusionFocus on high risk groups such as DE seems important in taking suicide preventive measures.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Prevalence and Risk Factors of Disordered Eating Attitudes and Behaviors Among High-school Girls in Al-Madinah City, Saudi Arabia

Current Nutrition & Food Science ◽

10.2174/1573401315666191009095502 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (5) ◽

pp. 709-717

Author(s):

Awad M. Al-Qahtani ◽

Lamees M. Al-Harbi

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Saudi Arabia ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Eating Attitudes ◽

Female Students ◽

Eating Attitude ◽

Attitudes And Behaviors ◽

High School Girls ◽

School Girls ◽

Disordered Eating Attitudes

Objectives:: To determine the prevalence of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors among high-school girls in Al-Madinah City, Saudi Arabia. Methods:: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Al-Madinah city in 2014-15. A multi- stage random sampling technique was adopted to include female students of government secondary schools. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and socio-economical questionnaires were used in the study for assessing the prevalence of disordered eating. All data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results:: Overweight and obesity were reported among 11.2% and 5.6% of them, respectively, whereas 31.3% of the participants were underweight. The overall prevalence of disordered eating attitudes among female students was 42.5%. This rate was significantly higher among younger (≤16 years old) and those of the first scholastic level than others. The rate of disordered eating attitude was reported at a higher rate among obese students (59.1%) than underweight (41.5%) and normal students (42.4%). The commonest reported disordered eating behavior was self-reported binge eating behaviour (25.2%), followed by self-induced vomiting (8.7%) and the use of laxatives/ diuretics to control weight (6.1%). Conclusion:: The findings show a high prevalence of disordered eating attitude among high school female students in Al-Madinah city. Younger girls and those of the first scholastic level showed higher disordered eating attitude.

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