The association of fat preference with eating behavior and sex: Turkish version of the Fat Preference Questionnaire^©

The fat content of food may play a role in food preferences. Increased fat intake has a role in elevated body weight. Firstly, we aimed to establish the Turkish version of the Fat Preference Questionnaire^© and secondly to evaluate the relevant factors with dietary fat preference including body mass index (BMI); sex; and subscales of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ). The study was conducted with 261 participants among the academic staff of Yeditepe University. The Fat Preference Questionnaire^© and TFEQ were applied. After the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Fat Preference Questionnaire^©, Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to reveal the relationship between the scores of the Fat Preference Questionnaire^©, BMI, and the four subscales of TFEQ. Weakly or moderately correlated variables were selected to perform two sets of hierarchical regression analyses. Turkish version of the Fat Preference Questionnaire^© had statistically acceptable validity and reliability. Fat preference did not correlate with BMI (p > .05). Women showed a lower preference for high-fat foods and a higher dietary fat restriction (p < .05). The two subscales of TFEQ, the Disinhibition of Eating Control and the Susceptibility to Hunger, contributed to explain the variances in fat preference and dietary fat restriction (ΔR ² = .04, p < .05). Fat preference correlates with Disinhibition of Eating Control and Susceptibility to Hunger, while fat restriction correlates only with Disinhibition of Eating Control although none correlates with BMI. Turkish version of the Fat Preference Questionnaire^© is a valid instrument for further studies.