Validation of the dutch eating behaviour questionnaire (DEBQ) in a sample of uzbek women

The study uses Uzbek and Russian versions of the DEBQ to understand women’s eating behaviour based onemotional, external, and restrained theories. The DEBQ was administered to 76 Uzbek obese female patients at theRepublican Specialised Scientific and Practical Medical Centre of Endocrinology in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. We employedan ordered probit model to determine if emotional eating behaviour (factor 1), restrained eating behaviour (factor 2),and external eating behaviour (factor 3), including respondents' socioeconomic characteristics (for example, age andoccupation status), could predict female obese categories. The DEBQ’s structure was assessed using exploratory factoranalysis to retain the relevant factors. The results confirmed that there was a statistically significant difference in themean of external eating behaviour (factor 3) for each of the obese categories (p-value > F = 0.003) and occupation status(p-value > F = 0.003). Bartlett's equal-variances test also supported the assumption of equal variances in the groups forexternal eating behaviour for each occupation status (chi-squared (2) = 0.436, p-value > chi-squared = 0.804). Orderedprobit estimates revealed that the respondents' age positively influenced the probability of being in obesity class III. Incontrast, occupation status negatively influenced the probability of being in obesity class III. Most importantly, the restrainedeating behaviour (factor 2) and external eating behaviour (factor 3) were strongly pronounced for the obesity class III by(+17%) and (+24%), respectively. Policy recommendations include awareness regarding external eating behaviours andstrengthening targeted obesity-controlled programs. In addition, providing employment opportunities to Uzbek womenwith class III obesity could significantly lower their obesity status. Finally, the findings will help the government healthsector to understand the critical factors that influence obesity status and help them to make improvements accordingly