Psychometric evaluation of a German version of the Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test (MOET) in men and women

Background: Muscularity-oriented disordered eating (MODE) refers to eating behaviors that focus on muscularity rather than thinness. To assess this construct, the Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test (MOET) was developed and validated in several languages. This study aimed to translate and validate a German version of the MOET and to examine its factor structure and psychometric properties in physically active men and women. Methods: A total of 5,991 participants (5,556 women, 435 men) were recruited via Instagram followers of German-speaking fitness influencers. Demographic, exercise, and questionnaire data were collected. Factor structure was examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Measurement invariance across gender, internal consistency, and convergent validity with related constructs were also assessed. Results: Among the previously proposed models, the original 15-item one-factor model showed acceptable fit in women but not in men, whereas the 12-item one-factor model showed acceptable fit in both gender groups. Allowing correlated residuals between theoretically related items further improved fit for these models. Exploratory analyses identified alternative solutions, including a 6-item one-factor model with good fit in both men and women. This model also demonstrated partial measurement invariance across gender. Across model versions, internal consistency was acceptable to good, and MOET scores showed positive associations with thinness-oriented eating pathology and muscle dysmorphia symptoms. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the German MOET is a useful instrument for assessing MODE. At the same time, the highly fitness-oriented composition of our sample may have contributed to the differences between our findings and those of previous validation studies. Further research in other populations, including clinical samples, is needed to further validate the assessment of MODE.