Using psycho-behavioral phenotyping for overweight and obesity: Confirmation of the 6 factor questionnaire

Questionnaires that assess dietary habits, eating behaviors, and relevant psychosocial constructs are routinely used in obesity research and clinical practice. The 6 factor questionnaire (6FQ) was previously developed as an assessment tool for psycho-behavioral phenotyping. The primary purpose of this study was to confirm and validate the original findings in a large diverse adult population.

A total of 5399 self-selected participants (mean age of 48 ± 13 years and body mass index of 32 ± 8 kg/m²) completed the 6FQ online. The association between self-reported demographic data and 6FQ responses was assessed using linear regression models.

Mean factor score and odds ratio analyses consistently demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between factors and body weight even after adjusting for age, sex, and race/ethnicity.

Although the study was correlational in design, the results demonstrate that the 6FQ, an instrument that represents multidimensional unhealthful lifestyle patterns associated with diet, physical activity, cognition, and self-perception worsen with increasing body weight. Psycho-behavioral phenotyping may be a useful approach when assessing and treating patients with obesity.