Construction and validation of the healthy eating and weight self-efficacy (HEWSE) scale.

Healthy eating and weight self-efficacy occurs when individuals believe they can obtain and maintain a healthy weight and eating pattern. The goal of this study was to develop and evaluate the Healthy Eating and Weight Self-Efficacy (HEWSE) Scale. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the best fitting model is comprised of 11 items divided into two factors - healthy eating and healthy weight. Statistical analyses provided evidence that the HEWSE scale is reliable and valid. In sum, the HEWSE scale is a brief, psychometrically sound measure of healthy eating and weight self-efficacy that may be useful both in research studies and in clinical work involving eating and weight.