Self-report measures of loss of control over eating: Psychometric properties in clinical and non-clinical samples

Objective Research evidence supports the clinical significance of subjective feelings of loss of control over eating; however, limited attention has been given to how this construct is assessed. Two measures have been developed in recent years (i.e., Eating Loss of Control Scale [ELOC] and Loss of Control over Eating Scale [LOCES]), but further validation in clinical and non-clinical samples is needed. Method The current study evaluated the psychometric properties, including factor structure, criterion validity, and measurement invariance of the ELOC and LOCES across two groups: (a) a clinical sample of individuals with eating disorders (n = 106) and (b) a non-clinical sample of college students (n = 321). Results Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the 16-item version of the ELOC and 7-item brief version of the LOCES provided good fit to the data in both samples. These measures were highly correlated (r = .83-.87) and associated with binge-eating and related psychopathology. The ELOC demonstrated partial invariance between men and women and between the clinical and non-clinical samples. The LOCES-brief demonstrated full invariance between men and women and partial invariance between the clinical and non-clinical samples. Discussion Findings suggest that the 16-item ELOC and 7-item LOCES are reliable measures of severity of loss of control eating in clinical and non-clinical samples. Given the brevity of the LOCES-brief and evidence for measurement invariance across sex, it is recommended over the ELOC in heterogeneous samples. Future research is needed to confirm the validity of these measures across individuals with and without eating disorders.