Validation of Eating Screen in Hindi: A Step Forward to Combat an Under-researched Menace of Eating Disorders in India

Abstract

Abstract Background: A culturally appropriate tool to screen and diagnose eating disorders (EDs) is lacking in India. Aim: This study aims to translate, adapt, and validate ED Diagnostic Scale (EDDS) in Hindi. Methodology: Hindi translation of EDDS was done by three psychiatrists, two of whom were familiar with Western culture, their mother tongue being Hindi. The bilingual panel of experts, including three surgeons, one Professor in the English language, and one person with severe obesity (International English Language Testing System score Band 8.5) resolved translation inconsistencies. Back translation to the English language was done by an independent translator. Pretesting/focused-group discussion/cognitive interviewing was done in persons with severe obesity (n = 55). Hindi-version so-developed was administered to students (n = 120) after a week. Test–retest reliability was assessed. The original EDDS, Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M), and Fat Phobia Scale-Short Form (FPS-SF) were applied to 175 participants (students [n = 120], patients [n = 55]). The psychometric properties of Hindi-EDDS were investigated. Results: The mean age of students and patients was 18.60 and 43.38 years, respectively. Students and patients’ mean body mass index was 21.77 and 43.21 kg/m2, respectively. Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity for sample adequacy were 0.859 and χ2 = 3155.775; P = 0.000, respectively. The Spearman–Brown coefficient for Hindi-EDDS was 0.755 and 0.707, respectively. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha and Kuder–Richardson - 20) was α = 0.898. Cross-language concordance had a significant intra-class correlation coefficient (0.725–1.000). WBIS-M and FPS-SF showed a significant correlation with various items of Hindi-EDDS. Conclusion: The Hindi EDDS is a culturally sensitive tool with acceptable psychometric properties.