Food addiction research in India: a scoping review

This scoping review systematically mapped the extent of research on food addiction in India. While multiple studies have examined food addiction in the Indian context, a comprehensive understanding of its psychosocial and cultural variations remains lacking. To address these gaps and provide coherence to the literature, this review synthesized the available studies and offers a consolidated perspective.

Four databases were searched for studies published until 08 April 2026. All studies addressing food addiction in the Indian context were considered, and animal studies were excluded from the review. The study selection process followed a three-step search strategy. An internally developed form was used for data extraction, and two reviewers independently screened the records. Data synthesis was conducted using both descriptive and qualitative approaches to ensure comprehensive coverage of the available evidence.

634 records were identified, of which ten articles met the inclusion criteria for the final review. The reported prevalence of food addiction ranged from 7.3% to 44.1%, with a median prevalence of 15.3%. Seven studies used the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) or its variants, and a considerable heterogeneity in the assessment tools was observed. The most commonly endorsed symptom domain was persistent desire or repeated failure to reduce intake. Significant associations were found between food addiction and obesity (n = 4). However, associations with gender and age were inconsistent, diverging from global trends. Among students, academic performance, stress, and hostel environments emerged as significant and unique risk factors (n = 3).

These findings highlight the need for culturally validated assessment tools to explore the psychological and cultural correlates of FA in the Indian context, as well as for nationally representative studies. Moreover, the intersection of food addiction with unique sociocultural factors, such as dietary norms, social rituals, and academic environments, warrants targeted public health interventions and the development of national guidelines, particularly given the growing burden of obesity in the country.