Table 1 Pattern matrix of the principal axis factor analysis of EDE-Q attitudinal items (n = 1430)

 Desire to lose weight (WC)

0.78

0.25

0.31

0.11

 Feeling of fatness (SC)

0.75

0.30

0.23

0.09

 Dissatisfaction with weight (WC)

0.73

0.53

0.15

0.04

 Dissatisfaction with shape (SC)

0.70

0.56

0.11

0.01

 Flat stomach (SC)

0.69

0.04

0.21

0.23

 Discomfort about seeing body (SC)

0.62

0.57

0.03

0.11

 Fear of weight gain (SC)

0.55

0.19

0.28

0.43

 Importance of shape (SC)

0.23

0.79

0.25

0.12

 Importance of weight (WC)

0.26

0.78

0.27

0.14

 Discomfort about exposure (SC)

0.56

0.62

0.06

0.07

 Reaction to weighting (WC)

0.26

0.57

0.02

0.23

 Social eating (EC)

−0.03

0.55

0.05

0.47

 Dietary rules (R)

0.09

0.10

0.82

0.08

 Food avoidance (R)

0.12

0.13

0.81

0.12

 Restraint over eating (R)

0.22

0.15

0.79

0.06

 Avoidance of eating (R)

0.07

0.00

0.53

0.34

 Empty stomach (R)

0.33

0.05

0.42

0.41

 Preoccupation with weight and shape (WC/SC)

0.06

0.09

0.17

0.78

 Preoccupation with food, eating or calories (EC)

0.03

0.05

0.22

0.77

 Fear of losing control over eating (EC)

0.22

0.12

0.11

0.71

 Guilt about eating (EC)

0.38

0.37

0.21

0.41

 Eating in secret (EC)

0.02

0.23

0.02

0.37

 Eigenvalue

8.60

2.39

1.64

1.10

 Percentage of Variance

19.17

16.43

13.50

13.07

 Cronbach’s alpha

0.91

0.82

0.78

0.71