Murray, S., Kroll, C., & Avena, N. M. (2015). Food and addiction among the ageing population. Ageing Research Reviews, 20, 79–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2014.10.002 From the research article’s abstract: “Obesity among the elderly is a growing public health concern. Among the various factors that may contribute to the current rates of obesity is the rewarding aspect of highly palatable foods and beverages, which may lead to overconsumption and excess caloric intake. The present review describes recent research supporting the hypothesis that, for some individuals, the consumption these highly palatable foods and beverages may lead to the development of addictive-like behaviors. In particular, the authors consider the relevance of this hypothesis to the ageing population.”
Food and addiction among an aging population
Murray, S., Kroll, C., & Avena, N. M. (2015). Food and addiction among the ageing population. Ageing Res Rev, 20, 79-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/i.arr.2014.10.002 In light of the current obesity epidemic and predicted increases in the size of the elderly population, research efforts aimed at investigating the potential relevance of the Food Addiction construct in this age group may be worthwhile. murray2015 .pdf
Food Addiction in the light of DSM-5
Meule, A., & Gearhardt, A. N. (2014). Food Addiction in the light of DSM-5. Nutrients, 6(9), 36533671. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6093653 Research on the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for substance dependence shows they can be translated to eating behavior and that many individuals with obesity and/or BED fulfill those criteria based on self-report measures such as the YFAS. With regard to the newly added criteria in DSM-5, one study shows that three out of four symptoms may be less relevant in the context of food and eating. However, this was a small-sized qualitative study based on the themes that participants spontaneously mentioned during a semi-structured interview. As we have outlined above, all of the new symptoms can conceivably be applied to eating. Thus, future studies using standardized measures such as a revised YFAS are necessary for appropriately evaluating the relevance of the new SUD criteria for Food Addiction. Even if it turns out that the new symptoms, except craving, do not occur in the context of food and eating, it may still be questioned if this would disprove the existence of Food Addiction. As can be seen in Table 1, the diagnostic criteria as outlined in the DSM-5 do not apply to each substance to the same extent. Specifically, there are SUDs that do not cover the full range of symptoms (caffeine, hallucinogens, inhalants) or do not include intoxication (tobacco). In addition to this, the DSM criteria in general have been criticized for being rather inappropriate for tobacco [94]. Also, the DSM is criticized for its lack of focus on underlying mechanisms, which is a central component of the newly proposed RDoC system. Thus, a major test of the food addiction hypothesis will be to not only focus on the signs and symptoms linking addiction and problematic eating behavior, but also to examine the similarities and differences in the underpinnings of these conditions. meule2014 .pdf
Food Addiction in the Light of DSM-5
Meule, A., & Gearhardt, A. N. (2014). Food addiction in the light of DSM-5. Nutrients, 6(9), 3653–3671. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu6093653 From the research article’s abstract: “The idea that specific kind of foods may have an addiction potential and that some forms of overeating may represent an addicted behavior has been discussed for decades. In recent years, the interest in food addiction is growing and research on this topic lead to more precise definitions and assessment methods. For example, the Yale Food Addiction Scale has been developed for the measurement of addiction-like eating behavior based on the diagnostic criteria for substance dependence of the fourth revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). In 2013, diagnostic criteria for substance abuse and—dependence were merged, thereby increasing the number of symptoms for substance use disorders (SUDs) in the DSM-5. Moreover, gambling disorder is now included along SUDs as a behavioral addiction.
Neurocognition: The Food–Brain Connection
Hill, J. O., Berridge, K., Avena, N. M., Ziauddeen, H., Alonso-Alonso, M., Allison, D. B., Khan, N. A., & Kelley, M. (2014). Neurocognition: the food–brain connection. Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.), 5(5), 544–546. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.114.006437 From the symposium review’s abstract: “The limbic system of the brain separates food reward into liking vs. wanting. Increases in ‘wanting’ to eat can occur in the absence of increases in ‘liking’ for the same food being eaten.”
Neurocognition: The Food–Brain Connection
Hill, J. O., Berridge, K., Avena, N. M., Ziauddeen, H., Alonso-Alonso, M., Allison, D. B., Khan, N. A., & Kelley, M. (2014). Neurocognition: the food–brain connection. Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.), 5(5), 544–546. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.114.006437 From the research article’s abstract: “This article summarizes presentations from “Neurocognition: The Food–Brain Connection” symposium held at the ASN Scientific Sessions and Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology 2014 in San Diego, CA on 28 April 2014. Presenters reviewed research from several disciplines, including neurobiology, neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience, and nutrition, concerning the role of the brain in food-intake regulation, reward, and addiction. A transdisciplinary approach was taken to evaluate the state of the science regarding addiction models, as well as research gaps and future research necessary to understand neurocircuitry and pathways involved in food-intake control and behavior in humans.”
Psychometric properties of the Italian Yale Food Addiction Scale in overweight and obese patients
Innamorati, M., Imperatori, C., Manzoni, G. M., Lamis, D. A., Castelnuovo, G., Tamburello, A., Tamburello, S., & Fabbricatore, M. (2015). Psychometric properties of the Italian Yale Food Addiction Scale in overweight and obese patients. Eating and Weight Disorders – Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, 20(1), 119–127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-014-0142-3 From the research article’s abstract: “Aim: To assess the dimensionality and psychometric properties of an Italian version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) in a sample of obese/overweight patients attending low-energy diet therapy. Methods: Participants were 300 overweight and obese patients who were admitted to a private medical center in Rome, Italy. Controls were 300 (231 women and 69 men) adults from the general population. All of the participants were administered the YFAS and the binge eating scale (BES). Results: The one-factor model of the YFAS reported in previous studies did not fit the data [χ²₂₀₉ = 466.69, p < 0.001, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.07; 90 % CI: 0.06/0.08; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.91; weighted root mean square residual (WRMR) = 1.40].
Food Addiction and Bulimia Nervosa
Meule, A., von Rezori, V., & Blechert, J. (2014). Food addiction and bulimia nervosa. European Eating Disorders Review, 22(5), 331–337. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2306 From the research article’s abstract: “In individuals with obesity and binge eating disorder (BED), eating patterns can show addictive qualities, with similarities to substance use disorders on behavioural and neurobiological levels. Bulimia nervosa (BN) has received less attention in this regard, despite their regular binge eating symptoms. The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) was developed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders, and food addiction can be diagnosed when at least three addiction symptoms are endorsed and a clinically significant impairment or distress is present. Although the prevalence of food addiction diagnoses is increased in individuals with obesity and BED, recent studies which used the YFAS showed that there are also individuals with normal weight who can be classified as being ‘food addicted’.
Psychometric properties of the Italian Yale Food Addiction Scale in overweight and obese patients
Innamorati, M., Imperatori, C., Manzoni, G. M., Lamis, D. A., Castelnuovo, G., Tamburello, A., Tamburello, S., & Fabbricatore, M. (2015). Psychometric properties of the Italian Yale Food Addiction Scale in overweight and obese patients. Eating and weight disorders, 20(1), 119–127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-014-0142-3 From the validation study’s abstract: “The YFAS-16 assesses all of the ‘symptoms’ represented in the original version and has satisfactory psychometric properties, although the percentage of food addiction diagnoses according to the YFAS-16 is lower than the percentage of diagnoses according to the original version of the questionnaire.”
Correlates of food addiction in obese individuals seeking bariatric surgery
Meule, A., Heckel, D., Jurowich, C. F., Vögele, C., & Kübler, A. (2014). Correlates of food addiction in obese individuals seeking bariatric surgery. Clinical Obesity, 4(4), 228–236. https://doi.org/10.1111/cob.12065 From the research article’s abstract: “Recent evidence suggests that palatable, high-calorie foods may have an addictive potential. Accordingly, obesity and overconsumption of such foods have been associated with addiction-like eating behaviour. The present study investigated whether individuals with obesity can be classified as food-addicted and which factors would differentiate between food-addicted and non-addicted individuals. We administered the German version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale and other questionnaires to obese individuals seeking bariatric surgery (N = 96). Results showed that 40% of the sample could be diagnosed as food-addicted. Food-addicted individuals reported more frequent food cravings, higher eating disorder psychopathology and more depressive symptoms than the non-addicted group. Age, body mass and gender distribution did not differ between groups. The food addiction group had higher attentional but similar motor and non-planning impulsivity, and had lower scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) compared with the non-addicted group.