Scale Overview
The Concern over Weight and Dieting Scale – COWD was developed by Donna M. Kagan & Robert L. Squires (1984). It is designed to measure Concern over weight and dieting. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and college students.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 14 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Weight Concern, Dieting Behaviors.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Weight Concern |
1,3,6,8,9,11 |
6 |
| Dieting Behaviors |
2,4,5,7,10,12,13,14 |
8 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: a = Option A (Lowest severity/frequency), b = Option B, c = Option C, d = Option D, e = Option E (Highest severity/frequency).
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.