Furthering development of the Eating Disorder Examination-Pregnancy Version (EDE-PV): Exploratory factor analysis and psychometric performance among a community sample of pregnant individuals with body mass index 25

Psychometrically sound measures of disordered eating during pregnancy are needed, particularly for pregnant individuals with body mass index (BMI) >= 25, who are at high risk for disordered eating attitudes/behaviors. We previously adapted the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) for use among pregnant individuals with BMI >= 25. This study examined the factor structure of the EDE-Pregnancy Version (EDE-PV) in a community sample of pregnant individuals with BMI >= 25. The EDE-PV was administered to 257 pregnant individuals with pre-pregnancy BMI >= 25 between 12 and 20 weeks gestation. The EDE-PV factor structure was determined using an exploratory factor analysis with oblique geomin rotation, internal consistency coefficients were calculated, and convergent and discriminant validity of the EDE-PV factors were assessed. An 11-item, two-factor solution produced an acceptable model fit. The subscales did not replicate those of the EDE and were interpreted as Pregnancy Eating and Weight Change Concerns and Pregnancy Shape and Weight Concerns (alpha s=.67 and .85; omega s=.70 and .85, respectively). These subscales showed small-to-moderate, positive correlations with weight and psychosocial distress measures and differentiated between participants with and without lifetime histories of any eating disorder diagnosis, demonstrating adequate convergent and discriminant validity. The results indicate that the EDE-PV can more reliably identify factors associated with disordered eating attitudes/behaviors among pregnant individuals with BMI >= 25 compared to the EDE and support our call for the development and use of new and/or adapted measures to appropriately assess disordered eating during pregnancy.