The Eating Inventory in obese women: Clinical correlates and relationship to weight loss

OBJECTIVES: Describe the physical and psychological correlates of the Eating Inventory (EI) (also known as the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire) factors in an obese sample, and determine the relationship between the three EI factors and weight loss. DESIGN: Consecutive series of obese women enrolled between 1987 and 1996 in clinical trials of weight loss treatments. PARTICIPANTS: 223 obese women with a weight of 100.7 +/- 15.5 kg, an age of 41.4 +/- 8.8 y and a body mass index (BMI) of 37.2 +/- 5.6 kg/m(2). MEASURES: The EI and a variety of physical (weight, body composition and resting energy expenditure) and psychological (mood and binge eating) measures were assessed before and after 5-6 months of treatment. RESULTS: Before treatment, higher restraint scores were associated with lower body weights (P = 0.02), while higher disinhibition scores were associated with greater binge eating severity (P < 0.0001). Weight loss treatment was associated with significant increases in restraint and decreases in disinhibition and hunger (all Ps < 0.0001). Greater increases in restraint during treatment were associated with larger weight losses (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The three factors of the EI showed clinical utility in a sample of women receiving treatment for obesity.