Assessing the magnitude and lifestyle determinants of food addiction in young adults
Abstract Purpose Food addiction involves excessive consumption of highly processed foods rich in salt, sugar, and fats driven by hedonic eating behaviors. Increased food addiction, especially among young adults, could potentially lead to eating disorders. Hence, the current study aimed to assess the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Eating and Weight Disorders |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01752-1 |
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| author | Humera Vasgare Devaki Gokhale Anuja Phalle Sammita Jadhav |
| author_facet | Humera Vasgare Devaki Gokhale Anuja Phalle Sammita Jadhav |
| author_sort | Humera Vasgare |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Purpose Food addiction involves excessive consumption of highly processed foods rich in salt, sugar, and fats driven by hedonic eating behaviors. Increased food addiction, especially among young adults, could potentially lead to eating disorders. Hence, the current study aimed to assess the magnitude and lifestyle determinants of food addiction in young adults from Mumbai, India Methods Healthy young adults (n = 354) aged 18–25 years were recruited using convenience sampling. Utilizing web-based platforms, the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 was administered. Statistical analysis was performed with significance at a p value of ≤ 0.05. Results The mean age of participants was (20.99 ± 1.94) years, and the magnitude of food addiction was 11.3%. Sociodemographic determinants such as age (p = 0.000), socio-economic status (p = 0.000), and education (p = 0.000), and lifestyle determinants such as BMI (p = 0.012), dietary habits (p = 0.000), sleep (p = 0.001), physical activity (p = 0.001), anxiety (p = 0.001), and depression (p = 0.000) were significantly associated with food addiction. However, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, the relationship between lifestyle factors and food addiction became evident. The frequent consumption of specific unhealthy foods increased the risk (OR ≥ 1.0, p value ≤ 0.05), while the consumption of healthy foods reduced the risk (OR<1.0, p value ≤ 0.05) of food addiction. Conclusion The present study revealed a rising magnitude of food addiction and its determinants among Indian youth, highlighting the urgency of sensitization and designing targeted nutrition interventions to combat food-related addiction and hence reducing the risk of eating disorders. Level of Evidence: Level V, Descriptive Study. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-48ce6e97e77b48e7a2f24ec4e97392f9 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1590-1262 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Eating and Weight Disorders |
| spelling | doaj-art-48ce6e97e77b48e7a2f24ec4e97392f92025-08-20T02:26:59ZengSpringerEating and Weight Disorders1590-12622025-05-013011910.1007/s40519-025-01752-1Assessing the magnitude and lifestyle determinants of food addiction in young adultsHumera Vasgare0Devaki Gokhale1Anuja Phalle2Sammita Jadhav3Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Symbiosis Institute of Health Science, Symbiosis International (Deemed University)Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Symbiosis School of Culinary Arts and Nutritional Sciences, Symbiosis International (Deemed University)Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Symbiosis School of Culinary Arts and Nutritional Sciences, Symbiosis International (Deemed University)Symbiosis Institute of Health Science, Symbiosis International (Deemed University)Abstract Purpose Food addiction involves excessive consumption of highly processed foods rich in salt, sugar, and fats driven by hedonic eating behaviors. Increased food addiction, especially among young adults, could potentially lead to eating disorders. Hence, the current study aimed to assess the magnitude and lifestyle determinants of food addiction in young adults from Mumbai, India Methods Healthy young adults (n = 354) aged 18–25 years were recruited using convenience sampling. Utilizing web-based platforms, the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 was administered. Statistical analysis was performed with significance at a p value of ≤ 0.05. Results The mean age of participants was (20.99 ± 1.94) years, and the magnitude of food addiction was 11.3%. Sociodemographic determinants such as age (p = 0.000), socio-economic status (p = 0.000), and education (p = 0.000), and lifestyle determinants such as BMI (p = 0.012), dietary habits (p = 0.000), sleep (p = 0.001), physical activity (p = 0.001), anxiety (p = 0.001), and depression (p = 0.000) were significantly associated with food addiction. However, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, the relationship between lifestyle factors and food addiction became evident. The frequent consumption of specific unhealthy foods increased the risk (OR ≥ 1.0, p value ≤ 0.05), while the consumption of healthy foods reduced the risk (OR<1.0, p value ≤ 0.05) of food addiction. Conclusion The present study revealed a rising magnitude of food addiction and its determinants among Indian youth, highlighting the urgency of sensitization and designing targeted nutrition interventions to combat food-related addiction and hence reducing the risk of eating disorders. Level of Evidence: Level V, Descriptive Study.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01752-1Food addictionEating disordersObesityUltra-processed foodsLifestyle determinantsDiet |
| spellingShingle | Humera Vasgare Devaki Gokhale Anuja Phalle Sammita Jadhav Assessing the magnitude and lifestyle determinants of food addiction in young adults Eating and Weight Disorders Food addiction Eating disorders Obesity Ultra-processed foods Lifestyle determinants Diet |
| title | Assessing the magnitude and lifestyle determinants of food addiction in young adults |
| title_full | Assessing the magnitude and lifestyle determinants of food addiction in young adults |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the magnitude and lifestyle determinants of food addiction in young adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the magnitude and lifestyle determinants of food addiction in young adults |
| title_short | Assessing the magnitude and lifestyle determinants of food addiction in young adults |
| title_sort | assessing the magnitude and lifestyle determinants of food addiction in young adults |
| topic | Food addiction Eating disorders Obesity Ultra-processed foods Lifestyle determinants Diet |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-025-01752-1 |
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