Food Addiction in a Spanish Sample of Eating Disorders: DSM‐5 Diagnostic Subtype Differentiation and Validation Data

Although the concept of ‘food addiction’ (FA) has raised growing interest because of evidence for similarities between substance dependence and excessive food intake, there is a lack of studies that explore this construct among the wide spectrum of eating disorders (EDs). Besides providing validation scores of a Spanish version of the Yale FA Scale (YFAS‐S), this study examined the prevalence of ‘FA’ among ED subtypes compared with healthy‐eating controls (HCs) and the association between ‘FA’ scores, eating symptomatology and general psychopathology. A sample of 125 adult women with ED, diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 criteria, and 82 healthy‐eating women participated in the study. All participants were assessed with the YFAS‐S, the ED Inventory‐2 and the Symptom Checklist‐Revised. Results showed that the internal structure of the one‐dimensional solution for the YFAS‐S was very good ( α  = 0.95). The YFAS‐S has a good discriminative capacity to differentiate between ED and controls (specificity = 97.6% and sensitivity (Se) = 72.8%; area under receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.90) and a good Se to screen for specific ED subtypes. YFAS‐S scores were associated with higher levels of negative affect and depression, higher general psychopathology, more severe eating pathology and greater body mass index. When comparing the prevalence of ‘FA’ between ED subtypes, the lowest prevalence of ‘FA’, measured with the YFAS‐S, was for the anorexia nervosa (AN) restrictive subtype with 50%, and the highest was for the AN binge–purging subtype (85.7%), followed by bulimia nervosa (81.5%) and binge eating disorder (76.9%). In conclusion, higher YFAS‐S scores are associated with bingeing ED‐subtype patients and with more eating severity and psychopathology. Although the ‘FA’ construct is able to differentiate between ED and HC, it needs to be further explored. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109343/1/erv2311.pd

Individual differences in striatum activity to food commercials predict weight gain in adolescents

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109559/1/oby20882.pd

An obesity-associated risk allele within the FTO gene affects human brain activity for areas important for emotion, impulse control and reward in response to food images.

Understanding how genetics influences obesity, brain activity and eating behaviour will add important insight for developing strategies for weight-loss treatment, as obesity may stem from different causes and as individual feeding behaviour may depend on genetic differences. To this end, we examined how an obesity risk allele for the FTO gene affects brain activity in response to food images of different caloric content via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Thirty participants homozygous for the rs9939609 single nucleotide polymorphism were shown images of low- or high-calorie food while brain activity was measured via fMRI. In a whole-brain analysis, we found that people with the FTO risk allele genotype (AA) had increased activity compared with the non-risk (TT) genotype in the posterior cingulate, cuneus, precuneus and putamen. Moreover, higher body mass index in the AA genotype was associated with reduced activity to food images in areas important for emotion (cingulate cortex), but also in areas important for impulse control (frontal gyri and lentiform nucleus). Lastly, we corroborate our findings with behavioural scales for the behavioural inhibition and activation systems. Our results suggest that the two genotypes are associated with differential neural processing of food images, which may influence weight status through diminished impulse control and reward processing

The craving expectancy questionnaire: a brief, theory-based measure of consummatory desire and craving

Background and Aim

Development and validation of the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children 2.0

Objective: Scientific interest in the concept of food addiction is growing, but more studies are needed in youth samples. Brief, psychometrically valid, and developmentally appropriate measures are needed to support the assessment of food addiction in large-scale studies of youth that need to minimize participant burden. While a brief version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (YFAS 2.0) exists for adults, no comparable scale exists for youth. Thus, the current study aimed to develop a brief and valid measure of food addiction for use in youth populations (the modified YFAS for children 2.0). Method: Data stem from the Food Addiction Denmark (FADK) Project, where random samples of 559 adolescents from the general population and 413 adolescents from a population with mental disorder completed the 35-item original YFAS for children 2.0 (YFAS-C 2.0). An abbreviated 13-item version was developed, and the psychometric properties of the modified YFAS-C 2.0 (mYFAS-C 2.0) were then evaluated. Results: The mYFAS-C 2.0 exhibited a one-factor structure and was found to have sound psychometric properties regarding internal consistency and convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity. This was evident in both the general adolescent population sample and the sample of adolescents with mental disorders. Conclusions: The mYFAS-C 2.0 provides a brief and psychometrically valid measure of food addiction for youth, which may be beneficial for study designs (e.g., epidemiological samples) that aim to minimize participant burden. Future research on the test-retest reliability of the mYFAS-C 2.0 and its psychometric properties in younger children are important next steps.</p

Development of the Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale Version 2.0

The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) operationalizes indicators of addictive‐like eating, originally based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition Text Revision (DSM‐IV‐TR) criteria for substance‐use disorders. The YFAS has multiple adaptations, including a briefer scale (mYFAS). Recently, the YFAS 2.0 was developed to reflect changes to diagnostic criteria in the DSM‐5. The current study developed a briefer version of the YFAS 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0) using the participant sample from the YFAS 2.0 validation paper (n = 536). Then, in an independent sample recruited from Mechanical Turk, 213 participants completed the mYFAS 2.0, YFAS 2.0, and measures of eating‐related constructs in order to evaluate the psychometric properties of the mYFAS 2.0, relative to the YFAS 2.0. The mYFAS 2.0 and YFAS 2.0 performed similarly on indexes of reliability, convergent validity with related constructs (e.g. weight cycling), discriminant validity with distinct measures (e.g. dietary restraint) and incremental validity evidenced by associations with frequency of binge eating beyond a measure of disinhibited eating. The mYFAS 2.0 may be an appropriate choice for studies prioritizing specificity when assessing for addictive‐like eating or when a briefer measurement of food addiction is needed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137291/1/erv2515.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137291/2/erv2515_am.pd

Associations of Food Addiction in a Sample Recruited to Be Nationally Representative of the United States

The current study investigated the prevalence of food addiction and its associations with obesity and demographic factors in a sample recruited to be more nationally representative of the United States than previous research. Individuals (n = 1050) were recruited through Qualtrics’ qBus, which sets demographic quotas developed using the United States census reference population. Participants (n = 986) self‐reported food addiction, measured by the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, height, weight, age, gender, race and income. Food addiction was observed in 15% of participants, with greater prevalence in individuals who were younger, Hispanic and/or reported higher annual income. Food addiction prevalence was higher in persons who were underweight or obese, relative to normal weight or overweight. Food addiction was associated with higher body mass index in women and persons who were older, White and/or reported lower income. Identifying the scope of food addiction and individual risk groups may inform public policy initiatives and early intervention efforts. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142459/1/erv2575_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142459/2/erv2575.pd

A dual-process approach to exploring the role of delay discounting in obesity

Delay discounting of financial rewards has been related to overeating and obesity. Neuropsychological evidence supports a dual-system account of both discounting and overeating behaviour where the degree of impulsive decision making is determined by the relative strength of reward desire and executive control. A dual-parameter model of discounting behaviour is consistent with this theory. In this study, the fit of the commonly used one-parameter model was compared to a new dual-parameter model for the first time in a sample of adults with wide ranging BMI. Delay discounting data from 79 males and females (Males=26) across a wide age (M=28.44 years (SD=8.81)) and BMI range (M=25.42 (SD=5.16)) was analysed. A dual-parameter model (saturating-hyperbolic; Doya, 2008) was applied to the data and compared on model fit indices to the single-parameter model. Discounting was significantly greater in the overweight/obese participants using both models, however, the two parameter model showed a superior fit to data (p<.0001). The two parameters were shown to be related yet distinct measures consistent with a dual-system account of inter-temporal choice behaviour.The dual-parameter model showed superior fit to data and the two parameters were shown to be related yet distinct indices sensitive to differences between weight groups. Findings are discussed in terms of the impulsive reward and executive control systems that contribute to unhealthy food choice and within the context of obesity related research

Belief in Food Addiction and Obesity-Related Policy Support

ObjectivesThis study examines whether belief in the food addiction construct is associated with support for obesity-related policies (e.g., restrictions on foods served in schools and workplace cafeterias, subsidies on fruits and vegetables), while simultaneously examining other factors associated with policy support (e.g., political party affiliation).DesignCross-sectional.SettingOnline Community.Participants200 individuals were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk.MeasurementsParticipants (n = 193) responded to three questions about belief in food addiction and a measure evaluating support for 13 obesity-related policy initiatives. Individuals also completed the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale (mYFAS), self-reported height and weight, and provided demographic information (age, gender, race, political party affiliation).ResultsBelief in food addiction was significantly associated with greater support for obesity-related initiatives, even when accounting for the significant associations of age, gender, and political party. Belief in food addiction and political party both had moderate effect sizes for predicting support for obesity-related policy. There was an interaction between age and belief in food addiction, with significant associations with policy support for both younger and older individuals, though the effect was larger for younger participants.ConclusionThe current study provides evidence that belief in food addiction is associated with increased obesity-related policy support, comparable to the influence of one’s political party. Growing evidence for the role of an addictive process in obesity may have important implications for public support of obesity-related policy initiatives

Preliminary validation of the Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children 2.0: A dimensional approach to scoring

ObjectiveAssessment approaches for food addiction in younger samples have not been updated to reflect recently revised diagnostic approaches for addictive disorders. The aim of the current study is to develop a new dimensional approach to assess food addiction in adolescents that is psychometrically sound, developmentally appropriate, and reflective of the updated diagnostic criteria.MethodsThe dimensional Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children 2.0 (dYFAS‐C 2.0) and related measures were administered to 127 adolescents from the community in the United States. Endorsement rates for each question were reviewed, and the psychometric properties were evaluated.ResultsProblem‐focused symptoms had low endorsement rates and were excluded from the final version of the scale. The dYFAS‐C 2.0 demonstrated partial evidence for a one‐factor structure, had good internal consistency reliability, and was positively associated with emotional eating, external eating, and body mass index (BMI). The dYFAS‐C 2.0 also accounted for unique variance in BMI. Unexpectedly, the dYFAS‐C 2.0 was positively associated with restrained eating.ConclusionsThe dYFAS‐C 2.0 appears to have adequate psychometric properties for assessing food addiction in community samples of adolescents. Future research should evaluate the measure in clinical samples and investigate the association between food addiction and restrained eating over the lifespan.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146644/1/erv2648.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/146644/2/erv2648_am.pd