Important Next Steps in Evaluating Food's Addictive Potential

Gearhardt, Ashley N.; DiLeone, Ralph J.; Grilo, Carlos M.; Brownell, Kelly D.; Potenza, Marc N.

doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03454.x

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Unhealthy eating habits and taste preference for palatable foods have been viewed as risk factors contributing to obesity and overweight (Lanfer et al, 2012). Hyperpalatable foods, particularly ultra-processed foods with a high content of carbohydrates, sugar, fat and/or salt may possess addictive qualities, inducing strong craving and difficulties in controlling food intake in susceptible individuals (Gearhardt et al, 2011). With more understanding of the role of psychological factors and specific behaviors in the development of obesity, the concept of food addiction has gained increasing popularity among researchers in recent years (Penzenstadler et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between alexithymia and food addiction: The Finnish version of Yale Food Addiction Scale and preliminary test of its psychometric properties

Kajanoja²,

Tuulari³

et al. 2023

Front. Psychol.

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BackgroundIt has long been suggested that addictive behaviors are associated with alexithymia, a personality trait characterized by difficulties in emotional awareness and expression. However, little is known about the role of alexithymia in food addiction.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between alexithymia and food addiction. As part of the study, the validity of the Finnish version of Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS-F) was also investigated.MethodsThe sample consisted of 360 parents from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. The structural validity of the YFAS-F was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to explore the structure when proposed models were not supported by CFA. The associations of alexithymia as measured by the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and food addiction were examined using regression analyses followed by structural equation modeling.ResultsHigher alexithymia was associated with more food addiction by conducting linear regression analysis (B = 0.013, p = 0.011) and structural equation modeling (β = 0.24, p < 0.001). Furthermore, a single-factor model for the 8 criteria of the YFAS-F was supported by CFA and showed acceptable internal reliability (KR-20 = 0.72), and a three-factor solution for the 20 items of the scale was suggested by EFA with good internal reliability (McDonald’s ω = 0.91 for the YFAS-F, 0.91 for component 1, 0.87 for component 2, and Spearman-Brown coefficient = 0.89 for component 3).ConclusionThe current study determined a significant relationship between alexithymia and food addiction, which suggests alexithymia as a relevant factor for food addiction and may provide clinical implications for interventions. Moreover, the YFAS-F appeared to be a valid and reliable tool to evaluate food addiction in our Finnish general population sample. Further studies on the psychometric properties of the YFAS-F in more diverse populations are recommended.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between alexithymia and food addiction: The Finnish version of Yale Food Addiction Scale and preliminary test of its psychometric properties

Kajanoja²,

Tuulari³

et al. 2023

Front. Psychol.

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show abstract

“…As do the comments made by Gearhardt et al (2011), this turn to the benefits of drug addiction models for the sake of treatment enacts addiction treatments as broadly effective and successful. On the contrary, just as the attributes of addiction, and the criteria by which it can be meaningfully diagnosed, remain contested, so do assessments of the effectiveness of current treatments (Ritter & Lintzeris, 2004).…”

Section: Repeating Addiction?mentioning

confidence: 97%

“…In another article (Gearhardt, Grilo, DiLeone, Brownell & Potenza, 2011), the enactment of food addiction's collateral reality -drug addiction -goes a step further.…”

Section: Repeating Addiction?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Junk: Overeating and obesity and the neuroscience of addiction

Fraser

2013

Addiction Research & Theory

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Important Next Steps in Evaluating Food's Addictive Potential

Cited by 2 publications

References 7 publications

Relationships between alexithymia and food addiction: The Finnish version of Yale Food Addiction Scale and preliminary test of its psychometric properties

Relationships between alexithymia and food addiction: The Finnish version of Yale Food Addiction Scale and preliminary test of its psychometric properties

Junk: Overeating and obesity and the neuroscience of addiction

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