Weighing in on the body knowledge questionnaire: initial development and pilot testing

The purpose of this research was to develop and pilot test the Body Knowledge Questionnaire (BKQ), an instrument that measures weight management integration, and to determine its reliability and validity.

The 27 items of the BKQ were developed through review of the literature on integration and weight management/obesity. The resulting BKQ was pilot tested with 4 groups of individuals with and without type 2 diabetes. Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess the construct validity of the BKQ, and discriminant function analysis and logistic regression were used to establish criterion-related validity. Scale reliability analysis was used to determine the internal consistency of the BKQ and its subscales.

Exploratory factor analysis yielded a 2-factor solution, with factor loadings that were fair to excellent (.45-.81). Discriminant function analysis determined that the BKQ subscales could accurately predict the classification of participants into normal- and obese-weight groups. Results of the logistic regression showed that the BKQ could reliably distinguish between normal- and obese-weight participants. Internal consistency of the overall BKQ was .87, .89, and .73 for the subscales, Food Centricity and Psychosomatic Awareness.

This research provided preliminary evidence of the validity (content, construct, and criterion) and reliability (internal consistency) of the BKQ. With additional psychometric testing, the BKQ instrument has great potential for use in weight management practice areas, such as diabetes education, dietetics, nursing, and psychology, for use in individual or group weight management programs and program evaluation; or in the development of novel weight management interventions.