Validation of the dutch eating behaviour questionnaire (DEBQ) in a sample of uzbek women
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https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17108150##semicolon##
DEBQ, eating behaviour, emotional eating, external eating, restrained eating, obesity, overweight, Uzbekistan##article.abstract##
The study uses Uzbek and Russian versions of the DEBQ to understand women’s eating behaviour based on
emotional, external, and restrained theories. The DEBQ was administered to 76 Uzbek obese female patients at the
Republican Specialised Scientific and Practical Medical Centre of Endocrinology in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. We employed
an ordered probit model to determine if emotional eating behaviour (factor 1), restrained eating behaviour (factor 2),
and external eating behaviour (factor 3), including respondents' socioeconomic characteristics (for example, age and
occupation status), could predict female obese categories. The DEBQ’s structure was assessed using exploratory factor
analysis to retain the relevant factors. The results confirmed that there was a statistically significant difference in the
mean of external eating behaviour (factor 3) for each of the obese categories (p-value > F = 0.003) and occupation status
(p-value > F = 0.003). Bartlett's equal-variances test also supported the assumption of equal variances in the groups for
external eating behaviour for each occupation status (chi-squared (2) = 0.436, p-value > chi-squared = 0.804). Ordered
probit estimates revealed that the respondents' age positively influenced the probability of being in obesity class III. In
contrast, occupation status negatively influenced the probability of being in obesity class III. Most importantly, the restrained
eating behaviour (factor 2) and external eating behaviour (factor 3) were strongly pronounced for the obesity class III by
(+17%) and (+24%), respectively. Policy recommendations include awareness regarding external eating behaviours and
strengthening targeted obesity-controlled programs. In addition, providing employment opportunities to Uzbek women
with class III obesity could significantly lower their obesity status. Finally, the findings will help the government health
sector to understand the critical factors that influence obesity status and help them to make improvements accordingly
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