Influence of Food Addiction on Psychological Health in Late Adolescence

Link al seminario (Teams)

Abstract

Introduction: Food addiction (FA) is a phenomenon that explains much of the eating behavior in overweight and obese patients from a behavioral perspective. Approaches focused on changes in eating habits and physical activity often have effects that tend to diminish over time. This is why there is a need to study eating behaviors and psychological health that could more deeply explain the origins of obesity from a psychological perspective. The primary objectives of this study are to understand the relationship between psychological health and food addiction in late adolescence. This period is associated with a higher risk of developing eating patterns that predispose to overweight or obesity, and these patterns may lead to poorer general psychological health, creating a dysfunctional vicious cycle where interventions focusing solely on diet and exercise may be less effective.

Method: 522 participants completed the YFAS (Yale Food Addiction Scale) and the GHQ-28 (General Health Questionnaire). The YFAS measures dysfunctional eating patterns related to distress associated with eating behavior, while the GHQ-28 is a screening tool for early detection of somatic symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression.

Results: Adolescents with FA show significantly higher levels in BMI, general psychological distress, somatic symptoms, anxiety, insomnia, social dysfunction, and severe depression.

Conclusion: The onset of independence and the transition to adulthood could be a relevant period for developing preventive interventions aimed at improving the relationship with food, which seems to be causing poor psychological health in those suffering from FA, leading to a higher likelihood of developing overweight and/or obesity in the future.

Asistencia presencial: Aula A2.02 Campus de Sevilla