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].
Stress and addiction
Hildebrandt, T., & Greif, R. (2013). Stress and addiction. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 38(9), 1923-1927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.06.017 From the literature review’s summary: “Appetitive behaviors such as substance use and eating are under significant regulatory control by the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic pituitary gonadal (HPG) axes.”
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.
Problematic intake of high-sugar/low-fat and high glycemic index foods by bariatric patients is associated with development of post-surgical new onset substance use disorders
Fowler, L., Ivezaj, V., & Saules, K. K. (2014). Problematic intake of high-sugar/low-fat… associated with substance use disorders. Eat Behav, 15(3), 505–508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2014.06.009 From the clinical study’s abstract: “Participants who endorsed pre-surgical problems with High-Sugar were at greater risk for New Onset SUD in the post-surgical period. evidence for the possibility of addiction transfer.”
To eat or not to eat; is that really the question? An evaluation of problematic eating behaviors and mental health among bariatric surgery candidates
Miller-Matero, L. R., Armstrong, R., McCulloch, K., Hyde-Nolan, M., Eshelman, A., & Genaw, J. (2014). To eat or not to eat; is that really the question? An evaluation of problematic eating behaviors and mental health among bariatric surgery candidates. Eating and Weight Disorders – Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, 19(3), 377–382. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-014-0118-3 From the research article’s abstract: “Problematic eating behaviors, such as emotional eating, and food addiction, may affect weight; however, little is known about these eating behaviors, especially among those seeking bariatric surgery. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of problematic eating behaviors and to investigate their relationship with other eating behaviors, body mass index (BMI), and psychiatric symptoms. There were 142 patients who completed a required psychiatric evaluation prior to bariatric surgery. Of these, 16.9 % met criteria for a food addiction and 25.4–40.7 % endorsed emotional eating, depending on type of emotional eating. The number of food addiction symptoms endorsed was related to emotional eating. Both food addiction and emotional eating were related to anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, surprisingly, BMI was not related to a food addiction diagnosis, emotional eating scores, or psychiatric symptoms. Results from this study suggest that problematic eating behaviors are occurring among bariatric surgery candidates. Furthermore, this study may help to address the conflicting research regarding the effects of psychiatric symptoms on weight-loss outcomes. Perhaps it is the problematic eating behaviors (e.g., food addiction and emotional eating) that are associated with psychiatric symptoms that could be influencing outcomes.”
Effectiveness of a Web-Based Solution-Focused Brief Chat Treatment for Depressed Adolescents and Young Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial
Kramer, J., Conijn, B., Oijevaar, P., & Riper, H. (2014). Effectiveness of a web-based solution-focused brief chat treatment for depressed adolescents and young adults: randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(5), e141. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.3261 From the research article’s abstract: “Up to 9% of young people suffer from depression. Unfortunately, many in need of help remain untreated. The Internet offers anonymous ways to help depressed youth, especially those who are reluctant to search for help because of fear of stigma. Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of an individual chat treatment based on Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to young individuals aged 12-22 years with depressive symptoms by comparing it to a waiting list control group. For this study, 263 young people with depressive symptoms were randomized to the Web-based SFBT intervention, PratenOnline, or to a waiting list control condition. The chat treatment was delivered by trained professionals.