The factor structure of the eating disorder examination in clinical and community samples.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the factor structure of the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) in three different samples and to compare the goodness-of-fit of five models of EDE data.

METHOD: The EDE was administered to eating disordered (n = 158), treatment-seeking obese (n = 170) and non-eating disordered community-based (n = 329) participants. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to compare the validity of the original four-factor EDE model with that of three-, two-, and one-factor models.

RESULTS

None of the tested models provided a "good fit" to the data in any sample, with the exception of a brief one-factor model in the eating disorder group. Estimations of internal consistency, reliability, and validity were superior for the one-, two-, and three-factor models compared to the four-factor model in all samples.

DISCUSSION: Overall, there was more support for a one-factor model of EDE data than for a multi-factorial model. It may be more appropriate to use Global EDE scores than individual subscale scores for research purposes.