Validation of the Eating Habits Questionnaire in Greek adults

Abstract

Healthy eating has gained ground in people's daily lives in modern society. However, an overwhelming preoccupation with healthy eating can lead to a pathological form setting the ground for orthorexia nervosa. This study aimed to validate the Greek version of the Eating Habits Questionnaire (EHQ) in adults 18 to 65 years old. The EHQ evaluates orthorexia nervosa traits. An online survey was conducted among adults of the general Greek population by administrating a battery of self-report instruments. The IPIP Big-Five personality questionnaire, Beck’s Depression Inventory, the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised, the Bulimic Investigatory Test, the Edinburg BITE, and the Eating Attitudes Test-13 were used. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent and criterion validity were examined. A total of 551 adults (92.2% females) voluntarily participated in the study. Results suggest that the Greek version of the instrument has good psychometric properties. Analysis revealed a 3-factor model explaining 48.20% of the total variance. Cronbach’s alphas ranged between 0.80 to 0.82, indicating good internal consistency. The test-retest reliability analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the measurements of the first and the post-2 weeks. Correlations with other eating disorder-related constructs were found to be weak to moderate. Body mass index was not significantly correlated with neither of the three EHQ subscales. The Greek version of EHQ is a robust instrument that could be used in clinical practice and research in the field of eating disorders in Greece.