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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
07:07
Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice
Published on: June 5, 2016
The Irrational Food Beliefs Scale: development and validation.
Timothy M Osberg1, Danielle Poland, Gina Aguayo
1Department of Psychology, DePaul Hall, Niagara University, NY 14109-2208, United States. tosberg@niagara.edu
Eating Behaviors
|January 3, 2008
Summary
Irrational Food Beliefs (IFB) are unhealthy attitudes about food that can hinder weight loss and maintenance. Developing the Irrational Food Beliefs Scale (IFBS) helps identify these beliefs and their impact on weight management.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Cognitive distortions regarding food are proposed to negatively impact weight management.
- Understanding these irrational food beliefs is crucial for effective weight loss interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a scale measuring Irrational Food Beliefs (IFB).
- To examine the association between IFB and weight loss outcomes, psychological factors, and eating behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Development and validation of the Irrational Food Beliefs Scale (IFBS) across multiple studies.
- Correlational analyses with measures of weight change, bulimic symptoms, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and cognitive traits.
- Assessment in college and obese community samples.
Main Results:
- The IFBS demonstrated internal consistency and ecological validity, comprising rational and irrational belief factors.
- Irrational food beliefs were positively associated with weight gain, poor weight loss maintenance, and bulimic symptoms.
- IFB scores correlated with psychological distress (depression, anxiety) and negatively with self-esteem and need for cognition.
Conclusions:
- Irrational Food Beliefs are a significant factor contributing to difficulties in weight loss and maintenance.
- The IFBS is a valid measure for assessing these detrimental beliefs.
- Targeting irrational food beliefs may be a valuable component of weight management strategies.
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