Handbook of Assessment Methods for Eating Behaviors and Weight-Related Problems

"How does one best assess body image? What are the various ways one can measure physical activity and expenditure of energy? Ho would one go about evaluating eating behaviors and attitudes in populations other than white, middle-class, young adults? If these are the types of questions you find yourself asking, this handbook may prove an invaluable resource for you. . . . While the specific focus of the handbook is measurement issues and techniques, the range of topical areas covered is impressively wide. . . . Consistent with the general purpose of a professional handbook, the current volume serves as a valuable reference for those working in fields related to problems in weight and eating. . . . Certainly the handbook is a requisite volume for those serious about appropriate and accurate measurement in eating disorders and weight-related problems." --Michael W. Wiederman, Ph.D., in Eating Disorders "This book is a comprehensive review of methods of assessing eating behavior and weight-related problems. . . . There are no other works with which this book can be compared, because it is innovative and establishes a foundation of resources for clinicians seriously interested in the assessment of attitudes toward, behavior in, and some physical measures of eating and weight disorders." --Arnold E. Andersen, M.D., in The New England Journal of Medicine "An outstanding contribution to the field of eating disorders and obesity. . . . I am impressed with the overall quality of the material. There is, to my knowledge, no other way to conveniently access the wealth of information contained in this book. For the professional interested in the study or treatment of eating disorders and obesity, it can be an invaluable reference tool. The coverage is comprehensive, up-to-date, and clearly presented. It has already saved me hours of library literature searching." --Lawrence J. Cheskin, M.D., Director, The Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, Baltimore, MD "This large volume is a valuable addition to the enormous literature in the area of eating behaviors and disorders and regulation of weight simply because the focus here is on measurement. This includes subjective, often self-report measures as well as objective methods of assessment. Having such a comprehensive set in one place . . . permits researchers and clinicians an opportunity to review the wide-ranging variety and to make preliminary decisions about searching for the essential details. Attention is given to psychometric characteristics, including norms, as basic steps in evaluating selections. Chapters vary in weightiness of data given. . . . The wealth of information here can focus effort productively." --Psychological Reports "An outstanding research source. I highly recommend this superb book. It should be on every researcher′s shelf." --John P. Foreyt, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas Success in the study and treatment of eating disorders and weight-related problems depends greatly on the efficacy of the instruments used. As the number of available instruments has increased, so has the difficulty in determining which is most appropriate for a specific case or project. Offering a refined and carefully analyzed sampling of relevant materials, the Handbook of Assessment Methods for Eating Behaviors and Weight-Related Problems is the first comprehensive reference guide in this field. Following the introduction and discussion of such key constructs as binge eating and purging, dietary restraint, and body image, the authors offer critical analyses of the measurement instruments most suitable for study in those areas. Each instrument is then evaluated in terms of its development, psychometric properties, and availability; finally, pragmatic concerns including the time and financial resources necessary for the use of that instrument are considered. Through a combination of standardized formatting and meticulous editing, this volume achieves a rare--and appreciable--level of integration and cohesiveness. While clearly an essential resource for researchers, graduate students, and clinicians, this book is ultimately for anyone whose work emphasizes the value of rigorous measurement of the thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or bodies of persons experiencing eating disorders and weight-related problems.