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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #167143
Title: MEASUREMENT CHARACTERISTICS OF WEIGHT CONCERN AND DIETING MEASURES IN 8-10-YEAR-OLD AFRICAN-AMERICAN GIRLS FROM GEMS PILOT STUDIES.

Author
item SHERWOOD, NANCY - UNIV OF MINNESOTA
item BEECH, BETTINA - UNIV OF MEMPHIS
item KLESGES, LISA - UNIV OF TENNESSEE
item STORY, MARY - UNIV OF MINNESOTA
item KILLEN, JOEL - STANFORD UNIVERSITY
item MCDONALD, TIFFANY - STANFORD UNIVERSITY
item ROBINSON, THOMAS - STANFORD UNIVERSITY
item PRATT, CHARLOTTE - NAT HEART,LUNG&BLOOD INST
item ZHOU, AINONG - GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIV
item Cullen, Karen
item Baranowski, Janice

Submitted to: Preventive Medicine
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2004
Publication Date: 5/1/2004
Citation: Sherwood, N.E., Beech, B.M., Klesges, L.M., Story, M., Killen, J., Mcdonald, T., Robinson, T.N., Pratt, C., Zhou, A., Cullen, K., Baranowski, J. 2004. Measurement characteristics of weight concern and dieting measures in 8-10-year-old african-american girls from gems pilot studies. Preventive Medicine. 38 Suppl:S50-S59.

Interpretive Summary: Two hundred ten girls and parents participated in the pilot obesity prevention program, during which time reliability and validity were established for weight concern measures completed by the 8- to 10-year-old African-American girls who participated. In conclusion, weight concern measures had reasonable levels of internal consistency and promising validity, but only moderate test-retest reliability among preadolescent African-American girls. Refinement and further validation of weight concern measures in this population are warranted.

Technical Abstract: Reliability and validity were established for weight concern measures completed by 8- to 10-year-old African-American girls participating in a pilot obesity prevention program. Two hundred ten girls and parents participated in the program. Girls completed subscales of the McKnight Risk Factor Survey (MRFS) and body silhouette ratings, had height, weight, and body fat measured, wore accelerometers for 3 days, and completed two dietary recalls. Principal components analysis, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability were computed for weight concerns and body image measures along with convergent validity with body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (PBF), physical activity, and dietary intake. A Moderate Weight Control Behaviors (MWCB) subscale was derived from the MRFS. Overconcern with Weight and Shape (OWS) was a stand-alone scale. Internal consistency estimates for the scales were substantial ranging from 0.71 to 0.84. Test-retest reliabilities were moderate (0.45-0.58). OWS, MWCB, body silhouette rating, and body size discrepancy were positively associated with BMI and PBF. The "like to look" silhouette rating was negatively associated with PBF. In conclusion, weight concern measures had reasonable levels of internal consistency and promising validity, but only moderate test-retest reliability among preadolescent African-American girls. Refinement and further validation of weight concern measures in this population are warranted.