Abstract
Citation
Steinsbekk S, Sveen TH, Fildes A, Llewellyn C, Wichstrøm L. Screening for pickiness - a validation study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2017 Jan 7;14(1):2.
Abstract
Picky eating is prevalent in childhood and is associated with negative health outcomes. Therefore early detection of pickiness is pertinent. Because no psychometric measure of picky/fussy eating has been validated, we aimed to examine the screening efficiency of the 6-item 'Food Fussiness' (FF) scale from the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire using structured psychiatric interviews (the Preschool Age Psychiatric Interview), providing meaningful cut-off values based on a large, representative sample of Norwegian 6 year olds (n = 752). Screening efficiency was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, revealing excellent discrimination. The cut-point maximizing the sum of sensitivity and specificity for the scale was found at a score of 3.33 for severe cases and 3.00 when both moderate and severe pickiness were included. The results suggest that the FF scale may provide a tool for identification of clinically significant picky eating, although further assessment may be needed to separate moderate from severe cases.
Full Text
The full text is available at https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12966-016-0458-7
At A Glance
Individual Dietary Behavior Variables
| Behavior |
|---|
| Picky Eating and Food Neophobia |
Domain(s)
Individual Dietary Behavior
Measure Type
Questionnaire
Measure Availability
Not reported
Number of Items
6 Reported
Study location
Metro/Urban
Trondheim, Norway
Languages
Norwegian
Information about Development of Measure
The Food Fussiness (FF) scale from the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) assesses picky eating and food neophobia. The CEBQ has been validated against behavioral measures of eating and has shown good test-retest reliability
Study Design
Study Participants
Age
6 - 11 Years
Sex
Female
Male
Race/Ethnicity
Not reported
Predominantly Low-income/Low-SES
Not reported
Sample Size
752
Study Design
Design Type
Validation/Reliability
Health Outcomes Assessed
None
Obesity Measures
BMI for age
BMI Measured or Self-reported
Measured height
Measured weight
Covariates
Not available
Data Reported on Race/Ethnicity
Not applicable
Data Reported on SES
Quantitative data on study sample
SES-related Variables
Employment/Unemployment
How To Use
Administration
Who Administered
Third-party administered (e.g., parent/staff)
How Administered
Not reported
Time Required
Not reported
Training Required
Not reported
Instructions on Use
Instructions on instrument use included in article
Data Analysis
Data Collection/Analysis Costs
Not reported
Data Collection/Protocol
A subsample of parents drawn from the Trondheim Early Secure Study (TESS) was administered The Preschool Age Psychiatric Interview (PAPA) by trained personnel holding at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Participants were also administered the Food Fussiness (FF) scale from the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ).
Instructions on Data Analysis
Instructions on analysis included in article
Validity (1)
| Type of validity | Construct/subscale assessed | Criterion measure used | Test/statistic used | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criterion | The Food Fussiness (FF) scale mean score | Pickiness as defined by Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment (PAPA) | General Linear Modeling (GLM) | GLM = 2.54, 95% CI = 2.49, 2.59 for no pickiness; GLM = 3.35; 95% CI = 3.26, 3.44 for moderate pickiness; GLM = 3.71; 95% CI = 3.53, 3.89 for severe pickiness |
Reliability (0)
There are no reliability tests reported for this measure.