Children's eating attitudes test (ChEAT): reliability and validation in German children and adolescents based on clinical data
Abstract Purpose The objective of this study is to assess the validity of the German version of the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT), an internationally used tool for the detection of eating disorder (ED) symptoms, in a clinical sample. Methods The ChEAT self-report questionnaire, compr...
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2025-08-01
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| Series: | Eating and Weight Disorders |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01773-w |
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| author | Lena Nonnast Laura Maria Derks Natalie Deux Martin Holtmann Tanja Legenbauer |
| author_facet | Lena Nonnast Laura Maria Derks Natalie Deux Martin Holtmann Tanja Legenbauer |
| author_sort | Lena Nonnast |
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| description | Abstract Purpose The objective of this study is to assess the validity of the German version of the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT), an internationally used tool for the detection of eating disorder (ED) symptoms, in a clinical sample. Methods The ChEAT self-report questionnaire, comprising 26 items, was employed to examine eating behaviors of a clinical sample of 342 adolescents (aged 12–18 years) undergoing inpatient treatment at a child and adolescent psychiatric clinic in Germany. The ChEAT was validated through an exploratory factor analysis (EFA), followed by a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and an examination of internal consistency. Subsequent analyses were conducted to identify differences associated with participant characteristics, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and diagnosis. Furthermore, additional eating behaviors, depression, and anxiety symptoms were documented via supplementary questionnaires and correlated to the ChEAT to evaluate the convergent and discriminant validity. Results The factorial validity of the ChEAT was confirmed through EFA and CFA, resulting in a five-factor structure with the following dimensions: 'Body and Weight Concern,' 'Dieting,' 'Social Pressure,' 'Purging and Binge Eating,' and 'Food Preoccupation'. The 24-item model showed high internal consistency and demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data. Convergent and discriminant validity of the ChEAT was supported by significant correlations with other self-report questionnaires. Higher ChEAT average scores were observed in females and those with a history of eating or depressive disorders, whereas age or BMI showed no correlation. Conclusion The data demonstrate that the German version of the ChEAT appears to be a reliable and valid instrument for identifying ED symptoms in clinical samples. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate the factor structure and validity. Level of evidence V, cross-sectional, descriptive study. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-db68656aead64625901bc8b820bf90d0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1590-1262 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Eating and Weight Disorders |
| spelling | doaj-art-db68656aead64625901bc8b820bf90d02025-08-20T03:42:39ZengSpringerEating and Weight Disorders1590-12622025-08-0130111210.1007/s40519-025-01773-wChildren's eating attitudes test (ChEAT): reliability and validation in German children and adolescents based on clinical dataLena Nonnast0Laura Maria Derks1Natalie Deux2Martin Holtmann3Tanja Legenbauer4LWL University Hospital Hamm for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic, Ruhr-University BochumLWL University Hospital Hamm for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic, Ruhr-University BochumLWL University Hospital Hamm for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic, Ruhr-University BochumLWL University Hospital Hamm for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic, Ruhr-University BochumLWL University Hospital Hamm for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic, Ruhr-University BochumAbstract Purpose The objective of this study is to assess the validity of the German version of the Children's Eating Attitudes Test (ChEAT), an internationally used tool for the detection of eating disorder (ED) symptoms, in a clinical sample. Methods The ChEAT self-report questionnaire, comprising 26 items, was employed to examine eating behaviors of a clinical sample of 342 adolescents (aged 12–18 years) undergoing inpatient treatment at a child and adolescent psychiatric clinic in Germany. The ChEAT was validated through an exploratory factor analysis (EFA), followed by a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and an examination of internal consistency. Subsequent analyses were conducted to identify differences associated with participant characteristics, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and diagnosis. Furthermore, additional eating behaviors, depression, and anxiety symptoms were documented via supplementary questionnaires and correlated to the ChEAT to evaluate the convergent and discriminant validity. Results The factorial validity of the ChEAT was confirmed through EFA and CFA, resulting in a five-factor structure with the following dimensions: 'Body and Weight Concern,' 'Dieting,' 'Social Pressure,' 'Purging and Binge Eating,' and 'Food Preoccupation'. The 24-item model showed high internal consistency and demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data. Convergent and discriminant validity of the ChEAT was supported by significant correlations with other self-report questionnaires. Higher ChEAT average scores were observed in females and those with a history of eating or depressive disorders, whereas age or BMI showed no correlation. Conclusion The data demonstrate that the German version of the ChEAT appears to be a reliable and valid instrument for identifying ED symptoms in clinical samples. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate the factor structure and validity. Level of evidence V, cross-sectional, descriptive study.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01773-wChildren's eating attitudes testChEATEating disordersPsychometric characteristicsGerman children and adolescents |
| spellingShingle | Lena Nonnast Laura Maria Derks Natalie Deux Martin Holtmann Tanja Legenbauer Children's eating attitudes test (ChEAT): reliability and validation in German children and adolescents based on clinical data Eating and Weight Disorders Children's eating attitudes test ChEAT Eating disorders Psychometric characteristics German children and adolescents |
| title | Children's eating attitudes test (ChEAT): reliability and validation in German children and adolescents based on clinical data |
| title_full | Children's eating attitudes test (ChEAT): reliability and validation in German children and adolescents based on clinical data |
| title_fullStr | Children's eating attitudes test (ChEAT): reliability and validation in German children and adolescents based on clinical data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Children's eating attitudes test (ChEAT): reliability and validation in German children and adolescents based on clinical data |
| title_short | Children's eating attitudes test (ChEAT): reliability and validation in German children and adolescents based on clinical data |
| title_sort | children s eating attitudes test cheat reliability and validation in german children and adolescents based on clinical data |
| topic | Children's eating attitudes test ChEAT Eating disorders Psychometric characteristics German children and adolescents |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01773-w |
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