Mindful Eating Questionnaire: Validation and Reliability in Romanian Adults

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Nutrition Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Mindful eating is linked to successful long-term weight management and reduced weight rebound.
• Interventions focusing on mindful eating show higher success rates in weight reduction.
• A validated tool is needed to measure mindful eating in the Romanian adult population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the validity and reliability of the Framson's Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ) for Romanian adults.
• To assess the psychometric properties of the MEQ in a diverse Romanian sample.
• To establish the MEQ as a reliable instrument for mindful eating research in Romania.

Main Methods:

• Cross-validation of the Romanian MEQ using internal and external reliability measures.
• Assessment of construct validity via the "known groups" method (dietitians, sports professionals, individuals with overweight/obesity).
• Convergent validity analysis correlating MEQ scores with demographic factors in a large sample.

Main Results:

• Adequate internal reliability (0.72) and external reliability (0.83) were found for the Romanian MEQ.
• Dietitians and sports professionals exhibited significantly lower MEQ scores (indicating higher mindful eating) compared to individuals with overweight/obesity.
• Lower mindful eating scores correlated with excess weight, perceived suboptimal health, higher stress levels, and younger age.

Conclusions:

• The Romanian version of the MEQ is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing mindful eating in adults.
• Mindful eating practices are inversely associated with excess weight and higher stress levels in the Romanian adult population.
• The MEQ can be utilized in clinical and research settings to promote mindful eating for weight management and overall health.