Association between food addiction with ultra-processed food consumption and eating patterns in a Brazilian sample.

The study objectives were to determine whether consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and eating patterns are associated with food addiction (FA) in a Brazilian sample. This is a cross-sectional study. The Brazilian Food and Nutrition Surveillance System tool assessed food consumption markers and dietary patterns. The modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 was used to determine FA. 5946 participants were included with a mean age of 24 ± 6 years, and 4371 (73.5%) were female. After statistical adjustments for confounders, individuals with FA had lower consumption of fresh fruits (PR: 0.88; 95%CI: [0.79; 0.97]), vegetables (PR: 0.87; 95%CI: [0.79; 0.97]), and beans (PR: 0.85; 95%CI: [0.77; 0.95]). They also had higher consumption of UPF: hamburgers/sausages (PR: 1.15; 95%CI: [1.04; 1.27]), instant noodles, packaged snacks, and/or salty cookies (PR: 1.27; 95%CI: [1.13; 1.42]), and sandwich cookies, sweets, and/or treats (PR: 1.26; 95%CI: [1.14; 1.40]). Positive associations between FA and having meals in front of the screen (PR: 1.48; 95%CI: [1.28; 1.71]) and having a late-night snack (PR: 1.24; 95%CI: [1.11; 1.39]) remained. The negative association between FA and skipping breakfast (PR: 0.76; 95%CI: [0.68; 0.85]) also remained. These eating patterns may contribute to FA, which could be potential targets for clinical intervention.

Prevalence of food addiction among patients undergoing metabolic/bariatric surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Candidates for metabolic/bariatric surgery show a high prevalence of food addiction (FA). However, few studies have investigated FA prevalence after bariatric surgery, especially using longitudinal studies. This systematic review with a meta-analysis aimed to determine pre- and postoperative prevalence of FA among patients undergoing metabolic/bariatric surgery. It included both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that used the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS). The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, LILACS, PsycArticles, CENTRAL, greylit.org, and opengrey.eu. Studies that used the YFAS to evaluate FA in pre- or postoperative patients were included. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed with cross-sectional studies to calculate the weighted prevalence of FA at the pre- and postoperative moments. For longitudinal studies, which measured FA at both time points for the same individuals, absolute prevalence reduction (APR) was calculated. Of the 6626 records, 40 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The preoperative weighted prevalence of FA was 32% (95% CI: 27-37%; 33 groups), whereas the postoperative prevalence was 15% (95% CI: 12-18%; 14 groups). Seven longitudinal studies showed a weighted APR of 26 p.p. (95% CI: 10-41 p.p.). Observational data suggest a reduction in the prevalence of FA among patients that undergo bariatric surgery. Interventional studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Prevalence of food addiction and its association with anxiety, depression, and adherence to social distancing measures in Brazilian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide study.

The study's objective was to determine the prevalence of food addiction (FA) in Brazilian university students and to verify whether there is an association with anxiety, depression, and adherence to the social distancing measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a nationwide cross-sectional study carried out through the application of online questionnaires. Self-reported data on age, sex, economic class, race/skin color, anthropometric data, depression diagnosis, anxiety, modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0), and adherence to social distancing measures were collected. 5368 participants were included, with a mean age was 24.1 ± 6.3 years, the majority were female (n = 3990; 74.3%), and the mean BMI in our sample was 24.5 ± 5.3 kg/m2. The prevalence of FA was 19.1% (95%CI: 18.0; 20.0%). An association was observed between FA with depression (PR: 1.60; 95%CI: 1.43; 1.78; p < 0.01), and anxiety (3.13; 95%CI: 2.74; 3.58; p < 0.01), but not with adherence to social distancing measures (p = 0.70). In conclusion, there was a higher prevalence of FA in Brazilian university students. Besides, university students with anxiety, depression, overweight, or obesity and females are more prone to FA.Level of evidence Level V, Opinions of authorities, based on descriptive studies, narrative reviews, clinical experience, or reports of expert committees.

Risk patterns in food addiction: a Mexican population approach.

BACKGROUND: Food addiction (FA) is a construct that has gained interest in recent years but its relevance in Mexican population is still unexplored. AIMS: The present study has the aims of explore FA in a community of Mexican population, as well as identifying the risk patterns associated with it, in relation to the different etiological factors that have been described such as impulsivity, emotional regulation and eating styles. Furthermore, to identify a predictive model of FA severity. METHODS: The sample consisted of 160 female and male university students of Pachuca city in México, who volunteered to participate in the study. Assessment included multidimensional measures for FA, eating disorder severity, eating disorder styles, emotional regulation and impulsivity. RESULTS: A screening of FA-probable was registered for 13.8% of the sample, while 8.1% met criteria for FA-present. The FA-present group differed from FA-absent in the impulsivity levels and in emotional eating style. Patients with FA-present differed from FA-probable in the impulsivity levels. Differences between FA-probable versus FA-absent were found in the restrained eating style. Path analysis evidenced that FA severity was directly associated with older age, worse eating style profile and higher impulsivity levels, and indirectly related with the ED symptom levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that it is possible to establish a specific predictive model of the development of FA and its severity in Mexican population to implement adequate prevention and treatment strategies. EVIDENCE LEVEL: Level III: evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.

Prevalence of food addiction determined by the Yale Food Addiction Scale and associated factors: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine, through a systematic review with meta-analysis, the prevalence of food addiction (FA) using the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and its derivatives exploring possible factors associated with the prevalence of FA in several contexts. METHODS: The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, LILACS, PsycArticles, CENTRAL, Greylit.org, and OpenGrey.eu. Studies that assessed FA using YFAS were included. Two independent reviewers assessed the eligibility of each report. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to calculate the weighted prevalence of FA. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity. RESULTS: Of the 6425 abstracts reviewed, 272 studies were included. The weighted mean prevalence of FA diagnosis was 20% (95% CI: 18%; 21%). The prevalence of FA was higher in individuals with clinical diagnosis of binge eating (55%; 95% CI 34%; 75%). The prevalence in clinical samples was higher compared to non-clinical samples. Two studies included children only and no studies included only elderly people. CONCLUSIONS: Food addiction is a topic in which there has been a significant growth in studies. The highest prevalence was found in the group of participants with eating disorders and weight disorders. More studies with children and the elderly are needed.

Food addiction: Prevalence, psychopathological correlates and associations with quality of life in a large sample.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of food addiction in a large Brazilian non-clinical sample. Sociodemographic and psychopathological correlates of food addiction as well as associations with quality (QoL) domains were also investigated. METHODS: This cross-sectional study obtained data from a Brazilian anonymous web-based research platform (N = 7639; 71.3% females). Participants provided sociodemographic data and completed the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, PHQ-9, hypomania checklist (HCL-32), Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, AUDIT, modified Skin picking-Stanford questionnaire, Minnesota impulsive disorders interview, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised inventory (SCL-90R), early trauma inventory self report-short form, and the WHO Quality of Life instrument-Abbreviated version (WHOQOL-Bref). Associations were adjusted to potential confounders through multivariable models. RESULTS: The prevalence of food addiction was 4.32% (95%CI: 3.89-4.80%), and was more common among females. Food addiction was associated with a positive screen for a major depressive episode (OR = 4.41; 95%CI: 3.46-5.62), bipolar spectrum disorder (OR = 1.98; 95%CI: 1.43-2.75), and skin picking disorder (OR = 2.02; 95%CI: 1.31-3.09). Food addiction was also independently associated with exposure to early life psychological and sexual abuse (P = 0.008) as well as with reduced physical, psychological, social, and environment QoL (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Food addiction may be common in low and middle-income countries, though possibly less prevalent than in the US. Food addiction was associated with co-occurring mood disorders and skin picking disorder as well as with early life psychological and sexual abuse. Finally, food addiction was independently associated with broad reductions in QoL. Public health efforts towards the early recognition and management of food addiction are warranted.