Measuring social support for healthy eating and physical activity in obesity.

The findings question the validity of the SSEH and SSPA scales in obesity, with behaviours deemed to be supportive in non-obese populations not necessarily perceived as such by people with obesity. The development of a psychometrically sound measure of social support in the obesity context is needed. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Social support is a robust predictor of positive health outcomes. There is mixed support for the association between social support and weight-related outcomes in obesity. Discrepant findings may be due to social support measures of questionable reliability and validity in obesity. What does this study add? The SSEH and SSPA scales have questionable validity in obesity. Behaviours deemed to be supportive by family and friends may not be perceived as such by individuals with obesity. A psychometrically sound measure of social support in the obesity context is needed.