# Reliability and validity of the Addiction-Like eating behavior scale (AEBS) in a Peruvian adolescent population

## TL;DR

This study confirms that the Addiction-Like Eating Behavior Scale is a reliable and valid tool for assessing eating behaviors in Peruvian adolescents.

## Contribution

The paper validates and adapts the AEBS for use in a Peruvian adolescent population.

## Key findings

- The AEBS showed three factors with acceptable reliability (ω > 0.65) in Peruvian adolescents.
- Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the structural validity of the AEBS with good fit indices.
- The psychometric properties of the AEBS were supported in both coastal and jungle regions of Peru.

## Abstract

Understanding eating behaviors in Latin American contexts is crucial, given the current epidemic of obesity among adolescents in this region.

The study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Addiction-Like Eating Behavior Scale (AEBS) in adolescents from Peru.

The study was psychometric in nature, conducted with a sample of 1,249 adolescents from coastal (Chimbote, n = 841) and jungle (Tarapoto, n = 408) cities in Peru. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed, and a scree plot was used to determine the factors. Additionally, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to evaluate the goodness-of-fit indices used for structural validity, and the reliability of the Peruvian version of the AEBS was determined using McDonald's Omega.

The EFA reported the presence of three factors (KMO = 0.80 and p < 0.000). Furthermore, the CFA reported adequate fit indices (χ2 = 881.401; CFI = 0.957; TLI = 0.946; RMSEA = 0.074; and SRMR = 0.066) confirming the structure. The reliability was acceptable, with ω > 0.65 for all factors.

The adapted version of the AEBS is valid and reliable for use with Peruvian adolescents.