Adaptation of the rapid weight loss questionnaire to the Turkish language: A validity and reliability study in weight classified athletes
Aydan Orscelik1
, Yeliz Ay Yıldız2, Sabriye Ercan3, Gökhan Büyüklüoğlu1
1Sports Medicine Department, Gülhane Medical Faculty, Health Sciences University, Ankara, Türkiye
2Sports Sciences Faculty, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Antalya, Türkiye
3Sports Medicine Department, Medical Faculty, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Türkiye
Keywords: Weight loss, athletes, reliability, validity, questionnaire
Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of weight classification in certain sports is to ensure safe and fair competition. However, some athletes attempt to gain an advantage by losing weight to compete in a lower weight category. The Rapid Weight Loss Questionnaire (RWLQ) assesses the weight loss status of athletes. This study aims to translate the RWLQ into Turkish (RWLQ-Tr), while ensuring its validity and reliability.
Materials and Methods: Cross sectional study. Three independent experts translated the questionnaire from English into Turkish. The Turkish version of the questionnaire was obtained by translating the questionnaire into Turkish and then back into English. The translated questionnaire was then compared with the original questionnaire and harmonised. The content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated through expert opinion using the Davis method. At least 12 years old weight-classified sports athletes (n=330) were included in the pilot study. The RWLQ-Tr and the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire-Tr were administered simultaneously to the athletes participating in the pilot study. To assess reliability of the RWLQ-Tr, 93 athletes completed the questionnaire twice, with a 15-day interval.
Results: The Content Validity Ratio value was found to be 0.994. Discriminant validity was established between the independent groups created based on weight loss below 4 kg (n=181) and above 4 kg (n=118), determined by the median value (50th percentile is 4 kg) obtained from responses to the 14th question of the RWLQ (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in total scores between the test (31.0±12.3) and retest (30.5±12.2). The Bland-Altman plot test revealed a mean difference of -0.525 (p=0.318).
Cite this article as: Orscelik A, Ay Yildiz Y, Ercan S, Buyukluoglu G. Adaptation of the rapid weight loss questionnaire to the Turkish language: A validity and reliability study in weight classified athletes. Turk J Sports Med. 2024 Nov 29th; https://doi.org/10.47447/tjsm.0848
The approval for this study was obtained from Süleyman Demirel University Ethics Committee, Isparta, Turkiye. (Decision no:68/1, Date: 20.09.2023).
Concept – SE; Design - SE; Supervision - YAY,SE, GB; Materials– YAY; Data Collection and/or Processing – YAY; Analysis and İnterpretation – SE; Literature Review – AO,SE; Writing manuscript – AO; Critical Reviews – SE,GB All authors contributed to the final version of the manuscript and discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to authorship and/or publication of the article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or publication of this article.
