Nutrients, Vol. 17, Pages 1795: Creation and Validation of the Brief Healthy Eating Habits Scale (BHEHS-6B, Version 1.0), Based on Harvard’s Healthy Eating Plate, in a Sample of Young, Middle-Aged, and Older Peruvian Adults
Nutrients doi: 10.3390/nu17111795
Authors:
David Javier-Aliaga
Gluder Quispe
José Anicama
Julio Mendigure Fernandez
Keila Miranda-Limachi
Yaquelin E. Calizaya-Milla
Norma Del Carmen Gálvez-Díaz
Luz Antonia Barreto-Espinoza
Jacksaint Saintila
Background. Healthy eating habits are essential for preventing chronic diseases and improving quality of life. However, there is a lack of brief and culturally adapted instruments for accurate assessment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and validate the Brief Healthy Eating Habits Scale (BHEHS-6B, Version 1.0), based on Harvard’s Healthy Eating Plate, in a sample of young, middle-aged, and older Peruvian adults. Methods. The study followed a psychometric design. A non-probabilistic sample of 223 participants (both sexes; mean age = 41.6, SD = 15.8) was drawn from Metropolitan Lima, Peru. The BHEHS-6B (Version 1.0) was administered. Results. The bifactor model confirmed the unidimensional structural validity of the BHEHS-6B, showing acceptable global fit indices (CFI = 0.987, TLI = 0.937, SRMR = 0.025, RMSEA = 0.081) and an adequate hierarchical omega for the general factor (G = 0.638), supporting the use of a single total score. Finally, internal consistency was adequate for the total scale (α = 0.769, ω = 0.780). Conclusions. The BHEHS-6B is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing healthy eating habits, demonstrating evidence of strong content validity, internal consistency, and an adequate factor structure. Moreover, as a brief instrument, it is particularly useful for studies aiming to evaluate multiple variables and for the implementation of public health policies focused on improving community health.
Background. Healthy eating habits are essential for preventing chronic diseases and improving quality of life. However, there is a lack of brief and culturally adapted instruments for accurate assessment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and validate the Brief Healthy Eating Habits Scale (BHEHS-6B, Version 1.0), based on Harvard’s Healthy Eating Plate, in a sample of young, middle-aged, and older Peruvian adults. Methods. The study followed a psychometric design. A non-probabilistic sample of 223 participants (both sexes; mean age = 41.6, SD = 15.8) was drawn from Metropolitan Lima, Peru. The BHEHS-6B (Version 1.0) was administered. Results. The bifactor model confirmed the unidimensional structural validity of the BHEHS-6B, showing acceptable global fit indices (CFI = 0.987, TLI = 0.937, SRMR = 0.025, RMSEA = 0.081) and an adequate hierarchical omega for the general factor (G = 0.638), supporting the use of a single total score. Finally, internal consistency was adequate for the total scale (α = 0.769, ω = 0.780). Conclusions. The BHEHS-6B is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing healthy eating habits, demonstrating evidence of strong content validity, internal consistency, and an adequate factor structure. Moreover, as a brief instrument, it is particularly useful for studies aiming to evaluate multiple variables and for the implementation of public health policies focused on improving community health. Read More