Validation for Brazilian Portuguese of the Eating Behavior Phenotypes Scale (EFCA): confirmatory factor analysis and psychometric properties

Abstract

Objective: To validate the psychometric properties of the Eating Behavior Phenotypes Scale (EFCA) and to analyze the stability of the construct and its external validity in Brazilian Portuguese.

Subjects and methods: A total of 206 adult participants completed a self-administered survey designed to identify eating behavior phenotypes. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed, and internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Concurrent validity was evaluated through Pearson's correlation between EFCA scores and body mass index. Translation involved independent forward translation from Argentinian Spanish to Brazilian Portuguese, followed by back-translation from Brazilian Portuguese to Spanish. The Brazilian Portuguese version was administered following 100% agreement between the versions.

Results: The EFCA and its subscales in Brazilian Portuguese showed acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.83).

Conclusion: Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit of the data to the proposed structure. No statistically significant correlation was found between the body mass index and each subscale or the total scale score. The translation and back-translation process yielded less than a 5% discrepancy between the versions.

Keywords: Obesity; Phenotype; Precision medicine.