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LaFata EM, Allison KC, Audrain-McGovern J, Forman EM. Ultra-Processed Food Addiction: A Research Update. Curr Obes Rep 2024; 13:214-223. [PMID: 38760652 PMCID: PMC11150183 DOI: 10.1007/s13679-024-00569-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Detail recent advancements in the science on ultra-processed food (UPF) addiction, focusing on estimated prevalence rates and emerging health disparities; progress towards identifying biological underpinnings and behavioral mechanisms; and implications for weight management. RECENT FINDINGS Notable developments in the field have included: (1) estimating the global prevalence of UPF addiction at 14% of adults and 15% of youths; (2) revealing health disparities for persons of color and those with food insecurity; (3) observing altered functioning across the brain-gut-microbiome axis; (4) providing early evidence for UPF withdrawal; and (5) elucidating poorer weight management outcomes among persons with UPF addiction. The breadth of recent work on UPF addiction illustrates continued scientific and public interest in the construct and its implications for understanding and treating overeating behaviors and obesity. One pressing gap is the lack of targeted interventions for UPF addiction, which may result in more optimal clinical outcomes for this underserved population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica M LaFata
- Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science, Drexel University, 3201 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States.
| | - Kelly C Allison
- Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
| | - Janet Audrain-McGovern
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
| | - Evan M Forman
- Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science, Drexel University, 3201 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Drexel University, 3201 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
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Skinner JA, Leary M, Whatnall M, Collins RA, Pursey KM, Verdejo-Garcia A, Hay PJ, Baker AL, Hides L, Paxton SJ, Wood LG, Colyvas K, Collins CE, Burrows TL. A three-arm randomised controlled trial of a telehealth intervention targeting improvement in addictive eating for Australian adults (the TRACE program). Appetite 2024; 195:107211. [PMID: 38215944 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
There is a substantial research base for addictive eating with development of interventions. The current 3-arm RCT aimed to investigate the efficacy of the TRACE (Targeted Research for Addictive and Compulsive Eating) program to decrease addictive eating symptoms and improve mental health. Participants (18-85 yrs) endorsing ≥3 addictive eating symptoms were randomly allocated to 1) active intervention, 2) passive intervention, or 3) control group. Primary outcome was change in addictive eating symptoms 3-months post-baseline measured by the Yale Food Addiction Scale. Depression, anxiety and stress were also assessed. A total of 175 individuals were randomised. Using Linear Mixed Models, from baseline to 3-months, there was significant improvement in symptom scores in all groups with mean decrease of 4.7 (95% CI: -5.8, -3.6; p < 0.001), 3.8 (95% CI: -5.2, -2.4; p < 0.001) and 1.5 (95% CI: -2.6, -0.4; p = 0.01) respectively. Compared with the control group, participants in the active intervention were five times more likely to achieve a clinically significant change in symptom scores. There was a significant reduction in depression scores in the active and passive intervention groups, but not control group [-2.9 (95% CI: -4.5, -1.3); -2.3 (95% CI: -4.3, -0.3); 0.5 (95% CI: -1.1, 2.1), respectively]; a significant reduction in stress scores within the active group, but not passive intervention or control groups [-1.3 (95% CI: -2.2, -0.5); -1.0 (95% CI: -2.1, 0.1); 0.4 (95% CI: -0.5, 1.2), respectively]; and the reduction in anxiety scores over time was similar for all groups. A dietitian-led telehealth intervention for addictive eating in adults was more effective than a passive or control condition in reducing addictive eating scores from baseline to 6 months. Trial registration: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12621001079831.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janelle A Skinner
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Mark Leary
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Megan Whatnall
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Rebecca A Collins
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Kirrilly M Pursey
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Antonio Verdejo-Garcia
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Phillipa J Hay
- Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, 2751, Australia; Mental Health Services, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals, NSW, 2560, Australia
| | - Amanda L Baker
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia; School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Leanne Hides
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Susan J Paxton
- Department of Psychology and Counselling, Latrobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Lisa G Wood
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Kim Colyvas
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Clare E Collins
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia
| | - Tracy L Burrows
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, 2305, Australia.
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Pietrabissa G, Castelnuovo G, Semonella M, Mannarini S, Rossi AA. Measuring Motivations to Eat Palatable Foods: Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version of the Palatable Eating Motives Scale (PEMS-IT). Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:574. [PMID: 38470685 PMCID: PMC10930930 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12050574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gaining knowledge of the various reasons behind people's consumption of highly processed foods has the potential to enhance obesity prevention initiatives and open avenues to tailor treatment approaches for obesity and binge eating at a more personalized level. This contribution aimed to test the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Palatable Eating Motives Scale (PEMS-IT) in a community sample of Italian adults. METHODS A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test the factor structure of the Italian version of the PEMS (PEMS-IT) on a total of 616 respondents. Furthermore, the reliability and convergent validity analysis of the tool were evaluated. RESULTS The analysis confirmed the four-factor structure of PEMS-IT [(YBχ2 (164) = 537.901; p < 0.001, the CFI = 0.918, RMSEA = 0.072; 90%CI [0.065-0.078]; p(RMSEA < 0.05) < 0.001, and SRMR = 0.080] and satisfactory reliability on its subscales (Cronbach's α: 0.745-0.917). Positive correlations were also found with food addiction and binge-eating symptoms, compulsive eating behavior, and uncontrolled and emotional eating. CONCLUSIONS The PEMS-IT appears to be an instrument with promising psychometric properties and potential applications in clinical settings. However, it also has some limitations, and future studies could focus on improving the semantic content of the elements to increase the overall utility and precision of the instrument.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Pietrabissa
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy;
- Clinical Psychology Research Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20149 Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Castelnuovo
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy;
- Clinical Psychology Research Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20149 Milan, Italy
| | - Michelle Semonella
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel;
| | - Stefania Mannarini
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education, and Applied Psychology, Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.M.); (A.A.R.)
- Interdepartmental Center for Family Research, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Alberto Rossi
- Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Education, and Applied Psychology, Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.M.); (A.A.R.)
- Interdepartmental Center for Family Research, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
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