Food Addiction Problems in College Students: The Relationship between Weight-Related Variables, Eating Habits, and Food Choices

Abstract

The concept of food addiction, characterized by a strong urge to overeat highly palatable foods, has gained increased research attention over the last decade. College students are a recognized risk group for manifesting an eating pathology and weight gain due to the changes in eating habits experienced during this period. However, there is a gap in the literature connecting food addiction with eating and weight variables in this population. Thus, the present study aims to characterize food addiction in a sample of college students and enlighten the relationship between food addiction, weight-variables, eating habits, and food choices in this population. A sample of 194 college students (89.2% females) aged between 18 and 32 years old (M = 20.85, SD = 2.78) completed a set of self-reported online questionnaires on Google Forms. Namely, a Sociodemographic and Anthropometric Questionnaire, a questionnaire on Food Choices Characterization, the Eating Habits Scale, and the Portuguese Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0. Thirty (22.2%) participants presented food addiction problems. The logistic regression models utilized suggest that participants in the group with food addiction problems are more likely to seek clinical help to control weight, to consider that they should eat less food high in sugar, and to report lower food adequacy. In sum, this finding highlighted a connection between food addiction, weight dissatisfaction, eating habits, and food choices in college students, a population at risk for developing and retaining eating pathologies. Further research is essential to evaluate and implement interventions regarding food addiction, weight dissatisfaction, eating habits, and food choices in college students.

The Impact of WFH on Eating Habits

“…Research shows a rise in homemade recipe consumption during lockdowns, but office workers still order takeaway or delivery [26]. A Portuguese university survey found that 96.7% of respondents eat lunch daily, but 64% eat outside due to food hygiene concerns and changes in grocery store hours [27]. A study found no significant difference in food quality evaluations between home and office hours, but significant differences based on education, experience, and career.…”

Macronutrient Intake, Sleep Quality, Anxiety, Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet and Emotional Eating among Female Health Science Undergraduate Students

“…ElBarazi and Tikamdas found a positive association between fatty food intake, stress, anxiety and BMI, which is contrary to the healthy and adequate nutrient intake that benefits mental health [ 65 ]. Among Portuguese university students, no differences were obsrved between food addiction and BMI during the pandemic situation, which could have promoted healthier or unhealthier eating habits [ 22 ].…”

“…Scott et al noted that, in stressful situations and anxiety, people tend to regulate their emotions via eating [ 21 ]. Gonçalves et al observed in their study that only females reported having a food addiction [ 22 ].…”

Coping as a Mediator and Moderator between Psychological Distress and Disordered Eating Behaviors and Weight Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Accordingly, disordered eating behaviors and weight gain due to changes in eating habits and physical activity experienced during this period were also noticed [11]. College students are already a recognized risk group for developing disordered eating and weight changes because the transition to college frequently implies changes in eating habits [12]. Putting together this developmental period and the stress experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, some studies have shown that stress plays a role in eating behaviors and makes individuals more susceptible to the appeal of unhealthy foods, thereby compromising healthier eating practices and promoting or exacerbating obesity [11].…”