Why we eat: Development and validation of a 7-factor Motivations for Eating Profile (MEP-7)

Understanding why people eat is crucial for the prevention and management of overeating and obesity, but existing psychometric tools typically assess a narrow set of motivational constructs. The current study developed a comprehensive, theory-driven questionnaire from a recently validated framework of eating behaviour traits derived from 18 existing eating behaviour scales and evaluated its psychometric properties and external validity. Study 1 used a structured review panel of n = 30 adults and applied item response theory to a survey of n = 1279 adults, to select items from widely used eating behaviour scales and novel items for 'pleasure' and 'health'. Study 2 surveyed a UK-representative adult sample (1042 females, 968 males) to perform exploratory (n = 1005) and confirmatory (n = 1005) factor analyses. Internal consistency, measurement invariance, and associations between latent motives and body mass index (BMI), self-reported weight change, lifetime weight loss attempts, eating rate and physical activity were examined. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a seven-factor, 28-item model (reactive eating, restricted eating, negative emotional eating, positive emotional eating, homeostatic eating, eating for pleasure and eating for health) with good model fit (CFI = 0.993, SRMR = 0.045, RMSEA = 0.046) and good to excellent reliability (ωT = 0.77-0.93). Scalar invariance by sex, age, and education was supported. Latent motives showed theoretically consistent associations with external outcomes: higher reactive and negative emotional eating related to higher BMI and faster eating rate; homeostatic and health motives related to lower BMI and higher physical activity. The 7-Factor Motivation for Eating Profile (MEP-7) provides a brief, psychometrically robust profile of seven eating behaviour motivations with evidence of predictive validity. The MEP-7 supports research and clinical phenotyping and may inform behaviour change strategies for weight management.