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Food Addiction Problems in College Students: The Relationship between Weight-Related Variables, Eating Habits, and
Sónia Gonçalves1, Sílvia Félix1, Filipa Martins1
1Psychology Research Center (CIPsi), School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|November 11, 2022
Summary
Food addiction affects college students, linking to weight concerns and poor food choices. This study highlights the need for interventions targeting food addiction in this at-risk population.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Food addiction, marked by compulsive overeating of palatable foods, is a growing research area.
- College students are a vulnerable demographic for eating pathology and weight gain due to lifestyle changes.
- A gap exists in understanding food addiction's link to eating and weight in college students.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize food addiction in college students.
- To explore the relationship between food addiction, weight, eating habits, and food choices in this population.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 194 college students (89.2% female, ages 18-32) completed online questionnaires.
- Validated instruments included Sociodemographic and Anthropometric Questionnaire, Food Choices Characterization, Eating Habits Scale, and Portuguese Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0.
- Logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant associations.
Main Results:
- 22.2% of participants met criteria for food addiction.
- Food addiction was associated with seeking weight control help, recognizing the need to reduce sugar intake, and reporting lower food adequacy.
- Findings indicate a link between food addiction, weight dissatisfaction, eating habits, and food choices.
Conclusions:
- Food addiction is prevalent in college students and connected to weight dissatisfaction, eating habits, and food choices.
- This population is at risk for developing and maintaining eating pathologies.
- Further research and interventions are crucial for addressing food addiction in college students.
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