THE HEALTHY EATING GOAL-SETTING AND THE PLANNING AND SCHEDULING SCALES FOR MEASURING SELF-REGULATION FOR HEALTHY EATING

Objectives: Healthy eating is a central target in many obesity interventions. Self-regulation is supported by theory and research as a key factor in behavior change. While a measure of self-regulation for physical activity has been developed, no such measure exists to quantify self-regulation for healthy eating. The aim of this research was to develop and validate two scales, one for Goal-setting (HEGS), and one for Planning and Scheduling (HEPS), for measuring self-regulation for healthy eating.Methods: The scales were modeled after similar scales for self-regulation of physical activity and administered to 550 participants with obesity in a workplace weight management program at two timepoints. Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlations were used to investigate structural and criterion-related validity respectively.Results: PCA indicated that HEGS contained one single factor corresponding to goal-setting, and HEPS two factors relating to planning. All displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient>0.7). The scales demonstrated strong criterion-related validity, evidenced by significant association with antecedents and consequences of self-regulation.Conclusions: The scales for measuring self-regulation for healthy eating showed good internal consistency, structural validity, and criterion-related validity. They can be used to assess self-regulation in interventions, and to investigate interaction between self-regulation and healthy eating behavior change.