Concern over Weight and Dieting (COWD)

Abstract

The Concern over Weight and Dieting Scale (COWD) is a specialized 14-item psychometrics instrument developed by D. M. Kagan and R. L. Squires in 1984. Its primary function is to quantify the extent of an individual’s preoccupation with body weight, associated body image concerns, and engagement in various forms of dietary restriction and weight-loss behaviors. The scale is particularly effective in assessing the prevalence and patterns of dieting, serving as a valuable tool for identifying potential precursors to serious eating disorders among non-clinical populations, such as adolescents and college students.

The COWD items cover critical areas, including perceived overweight status, the frequency of restrictive eating habits, the use of extreme weight control methods, and the level of psychological distress linked to food and weight management. It provides a quick and efficient index of an individual’s relationship with dieting culture.

Keywords

Weight concern, dieting behaviors, body image disturbance, adolescents, college students, eating pathology, restrictive eating, weight loss methods, psychological assessment, compulsive eating, body dissatisfaction, clinical screening.

Authors

D. M. Kagan, R. L. Squires

Purpose

The central purpose of the COWD scale is to furnish researchers and clinicians with a reliable and efficient metric for evaluating the cognitive and behavioral components underlying weight preoccupation and active dieting efforts. The instrument was initially designed specifically to investigate the patterns and prevalence of behaviors associated with eating disorders within non-clinical settings, particularly among high school and university student populations.

The COWD allows for the quantification of the severity of an individual’s concern regarding their weight and the degree to which they utilize various strategies—ranging from normative dietary changes to more extreme measures—to manage or reduce body mass. Consequently, the COWD is essential for early identification and psychological screening in educational and clinical environments, pinpointing individuals who may be at elevated risk for developing severe eating pathology or body dissatisfaction issues. It also supports large-scale epidemiological studies aimed at tracking cultural trends in body image and dieting practices across different demographic groups.

Construct

The COWD is designed to measure the multifaceted psychological construct termed “Concern over Weight and Dieting.” This construct is understood to comprise three distinct yet interconnected primary dimensions, providing a comprehensive view of the individual’s relationship with weight and food.

• Cognitive Preoccupation: This dimension captures the constant mental engagement with weight issues, including persistent worry, feelings of guilt immediately following eating, and meticulous awareness of the calorie content of consumed food.

• Behavioral Restriction/Control: This refers to active, observable efforts to manage weight, such as skipping meals, deliberate avoidance of specific “fattening” foods, and engagement in formal, structured dieting attempts.

• Emotional Distress: This dimension covers the affective responses tied to weight concern, including negative self-perception (e.g., self-hatred following overeating) and the subjective emotional burden associated with perceiving oneself as overweight.

By assessing the intensity of the concern alongside the variety and history of weight loss methods employed, the COWD provides a robust index of the individual’s level of engagement with dieting culture and potential pathology.

Validity

The validity of the COWD has been consistently supported by research demonstrating strong correlations between high scores on the scale and established measures of eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, and related psychological variables like stress and hostility. This evidence strongly suggests robust criterion validity, confirming that the scale accurately predicts or correlates with outcomes it is theoretically expected to predict.

Early research conducted by Kagan and Squires highlighted the scale’s practical utility in differentiating patterns of eating pathology among adolescent samples. Furthermore, detailed psychometric analyses, including evidence for specific construct validity and divergent validity (showing low correlation with measures of unrelated constructs), are comprehensively documented in authoritative reference materials, notably the sourcebook edited by Fischer and Corcoran. Researchers seeking definitive statistical analyses are directed to these original publications for full methodological details.

Reliability

The reliability of the Concern over Weight and Dieting Scale (COWD) is generally reported as acceptable and suitable for a screening and research measure, particularly within non-clinical settings. A primary indicator of its consistency is high internal consistency, often quantified through Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, especially when administered to target populations of college students and adolescents. This high consistency confirms that the 14 items effectively cohere to measure the singular underlying construct of weight and dieting concern.

In addition to internal consistency, data regarding test-retest reliability—which assesses the stability of scores over time—is available in the scale’s primary documentation. The sustained and repeated use of the COWD in peer-reviewed literature for over three decades, especially in studies targeting clinical practice and early intervention for eating pathology, serves as strong practical confirmation of its consistent psychometric quality. Specific reliability statistics should be sought in the primary sourcebook reference materials.

Factor Analysis

Although the original documentation did not explicitly detail the factor structure, the thematic content of the COWD items strongly implies a multidimensional structure identifiable through factor analysis. Subsequent academic studies utilizing the COWD have often employed such techniques to confirm and refine the scale’s underlying dimensions, which align closely with the tripartite construct definition.

The anticipated factor structure typically reveals three distinct components: 1) Cognitive/Emotional Distress (items related to feelings of guilt, self-hatred, and chronic worry about weight); 2) Behavioral Restriction (items focusing on active avoidance of foods or skipping meals); and 3) Historical Dieting Behavior (items assessing past attempts at weight loss and the specific methods used, such as diet pills or organized classes). Confirming these factors aids researchers in understanding the specific ways weight concern manifests across diverse populations and aids in targeted clinical intervention strategies.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire

Format: 14 multiple-choice items, utilizing primarily five-point Likert-type scales or categorical frequency options (e.g., Never to All the time; Never to More than three times)

Language Available: English (Primary)

Population Group: Non-clinical and clinical populations focusing on weight management and body image issues

Age Group: Adolescents and Young Adults (typically 12 to 25 years)

Population Details: Originally validated on high school and college students. Subsequent research has utilized the scale across various demographic groups, including studies involving low socioeconomic status African American mothers and daughters.

Test Methodology: The scale can be administered via pencil-and-paper or digital formats. Scoring involves assigning numerical values to the responses, where a higher total cumulative score indicates a greater degree of concern over weight and a more frequent engagement in various dieting behaviors.

Keywords

Body dissatisfaction, weight control, compulsive eating, clinical assessment, psychological screening, self-perception, dieting behavior, psychometrics, psychological measurement.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Not provided in source)

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Not provided in source)

Correspondence Address: N/A (Not provided in source)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Concern over Weight and Dieting Scale was developed and first published by Kagan and Squires in 1984. Because the measure is featured in major academic sourcebooks, permissions for its use typically align with standard academic research guidelines. However, prospective users should always consult the primary sourcebook or the original authors for current licensing requirements or any associated fees.

The instrument is generally considered publicly available for non-commercial academic research purposes, provided it is properly cited. The original PDF of the instrument can be downloaded here: http://acumen.lib.ua.edu/content/u0015/0000001/0000384/u0015_0000001_0000384.pdf

Reference’s

• Kagan, D. M., & Squires, R. L. (1984). Compulsive eating, dieting, stress, and hostility among college students. Journal of College Student Personnel, 25(3), 213-220.

• Kagan, D. M., Squires, R. L. (1984). Eating disorders among adolescents: patterns and prevalence. Adolescence. 19 (73), 15–29.

• Kagan, D. M., and Squires, R. L. (1984). Concern over Weight and Dieting (COWD). In Fischer, Joel., Corcoran, Kevin J. (2007). Measures for Clinical Practice and research: A sourcebook. (4th ed.). NY. Oxford University Pr. Vol. 1, Page (s): 502-504.

• Payne, Keith. (1997). “The Effect of Self-Focused Attention on Psychopathology” . Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects. Paper 129. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/stu_hon_theses/129

• Thomad, Martina. (2010). Perceptions of body image among low socioeconomic status African American mothers and their daughters in the Mobile, Alabama. University of Alabama, Master of Arts thesis.

Items of the Concern over Weight and Dieting (COWD)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. The worst thing about being fat is: a. No opinion, b. Getting teased, c. Feeling unsexy, d. Being unpopular, e. Feeling bad about yourself

2. What is the greatest amount of weight you ever lost on a diet? a. Never on a diet, b. 10 Ibs, c. 11-19 Ibs, d. 20-29 Ibs, e. 30 Ibs or more

3. Do you think you are overweight now? a. Don’t know, b. No, c. Yes: by less than 10 Ibs, d. Yes: 10-19 Ibs, e. Yes: by 20 Ibs or more

4. How often do you skip one meal so you will lose weight? a. Never, b. Once or twice a year, c. Once a month, d. Once a week, e. More than once a week

5. How often do you avoid eating fattening foods like candy so you will lose weight? a. Never, b. Once or twice a year, c. Once a month, d. Once a week, e. More than once a week

6. How often do you hate yourself or feel guilty because you cannot stop overeating? a. Never, b. Once or twice a year, c. Once a month, d. Once a week, e. More than once a week

7. How often do you go without eating solid food for 24 hours or more so you will lose weight? a. Never, b. Once or twice a year, c. Once a month, d. Once a week, e. More than once a week

8. If a special weight-control course were offered at this school, would you take it? a. No opinion, b. No, c. Probably not, d. Probably yes, e. Definitely yes

9. How often do you feel guilty after eating? a. Never, b. Once in a while, c. Frequently, d. Very frequently, e. All the time

10. How often are you aware of the calorie content of the food you eat? a. Never, b. Once in a while, c. Frequently, d. Very frequently, e. All the time

11. How old were you when you first started worrying about your weight? a. Never, b. 12 years or less, c. 13-14 years, d. 15-16 years, e. 17-18 years

12. How many times have you tried each of the weight loss methods listed below?

    Diet medicine (pills, liquids, or powders). a. Never, b. Once, c. Twice, d. Three times, e. More than three times

13. Health spa or exercise class (including aerobic dancing). a. Never, b. Once, c. Twice, d. Three times, e. More than three times

14. Diet published in a book or magazine or recommended by a friend or relative. a. Never, b. Once, c. Twice, d. Three times, e. More than three times