Food addiction prevalence and related factors among people with obesity: A hospital-based study

Abstract

Objectives: Food addiction which is a non-homeostatic behavior that contributes to obesity is a highly discussed issue recently. In the present study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of food addiction among obese people and related factors who applied to our obesity outpatient clinic. Materials and Methods: Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS)-21 were applied to the 202 participants admitted to a Training and Research Hospital obesity outpatient clinic within 6 months who gave written consent. The patients were divided into two groups as individuals with and without food addiction. The prevalence of food addiction in the total sample and the difference between the two groups were evaluated. Results: The prevalence of food addiction among participants was 35.10%. There were no significant differences between the groups with and without food addiction in terms of age, gender, smoking status, having a history of childhood obesity, a family history of obesity, and exercising habit. The Body Mass Index (BMI) of the group with food addiction was significantly higher than the group without food addiction. The depression, anxiety, and stress scores of the participants with food addiction were significantly higher than those without food addiction. Conclusion: In this study, it has appeared that food addiction is prevalent among obese individuals. For this reason, we consider that early diagnosis and treatment of this disorder will make a significant contribution to obesity treatment. © 2021 Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University.