Measuring the meanings of eating in minority youth

The aim of this study is to present the development of the Meanings of Eating Index (MEI) in a diverse sample of children. Exploratory factor analysis was performed on MEI items. Factors with eigenvalues above 1.0 were retained. Items that loaded on multiple factors or with item-total correlations below 0.50 were discarded. A 24-item, 5-factor scale comprised the final MEI. Personal Negative Emotions and Disturbed Eating were positively associated with frequency of high calorie snack food intake (r = 0.21, p < 0.05; r = 0.33, p < 0.01), and Personal Well Being was positively associated with eating vegetables more frequently (r = 0.20; p < 0.05). Eating on Behalf of Others was negatively associated with frequency of vegetable intake (r = −.20; p < 0.05). Pleasure Eating was not associated with dietary intake. The MEI shows promise as a tool for understanding the affective determinants of dietary intake in minority youth.

► We developed and validated a Meanings of Eating Index (MEI) in a diverse sample of children. ► Personal Negative Emotions and Disturbed Eating were positively associated with high calorie snack food. ► Personal Well Being was positively associated with vegetables more frequently. ► Eating on Behalf of Others was negatively associated with vegetable intake. ► The MEI shows promise for understanding the determinants of dietary intake in minority youth.