Validation Evidence for the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Child Psychology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Eating behavior develops from infancy, influenced by internal and external factors, impacting a child's relationship with food.
• The Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) aids in evaluating childhood eating patterns and identifying potential issues.
• Early assessment of eating behaviors is crucial for long-term health and well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) for use in Brazilian children and adolescents.
• To adapt and confirm the psychometric properties of the CEBQ in a Brazilian context.
• To provide a culturally relevant tool for assessing pediatric eating behaviors in Brazil.

Main Methods:

• Parents/caregivers completed the CEBQ for students aged 3-13 in southern Brazil.
• Anthropometric measurements (height, weight) were collected for BMI-for-age assessment.
• Psychometric properties evaluated included internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and validity (exploratory factor analysis, criterion validity).

Main Results:

• The study included 205 children and their caregivers.
• Exploratory factor analysis yielded a five-factor structure with 20 items; all items showed factor loading > 0.3.
• Satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ≥ 0.7) and significant correlations between CEBQ scales and BMI-for-age were observed.

Conclusions:

• The CEBQ is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing eating behaviors in Brazilian children and adolescents.
• The validated CEBQ can be used by healthcare professionals and researchers in Brazil.
• This study supports the use of the CEBQ for early identification and intervention related to eating behaviors in Brazilian youth.