Why we eat what we eat. The Eating Motivation Survey (TEMS)

Understanding why people select certain food items in everyday life is crucial for the creation of interventions to promote normal eating and to prevent the development of obesity and eating disorders. The Eating Motivation Survey (TEMS) was developed within a frame of three different studies. In Study 1, a total of 331 motives for eating behavior were generated on the basis of different data sources (previous research, nutritionist interviews, and expert discussions). In Study 2, 1250 respondents were provided with a set of motives from Study 1 and the Eating Motivation Survey was finalized. In Study 3, a sample of 1040 participants filled in the Eating Motivation Survey. Confirmatory factor analysis with fifteen factors for food choice yielded a satisfactory model fit for a full (78 items) and brief survey version (45 items) with RMSEA .048 and .037, 90% CI .047–.049 and .035–.039, respectively. Factor structure was generally invariant across random selected groups, gender, and BMI, which indicates a high stability for the Eating Motivation Survey. On the mean level, however, significant differences in motivation for food choice associated with gender, age, and BMI emerged. Implications of the fifteen distinct motivations to choose foods in everyday life are discussed.

► Three-hundred thirty one eating motives were generated from literature, expert interviews, and group discussions.
► A psychometric measure assessing 15 core motives for food choice was developed.
► The Eating Motivation Survey showed a factorial invariant structure across gender and BMI.
► Mean differences in motive structure were established for gender, age, and BMI.
► Implications for sustainable eating behavior changes in everyday life are suggested.