Food Addiction and Cognitive Functioning: What Happens in Adolescents?

Exploratory study of the prevalence of food addiction and its relationship with executive functioning, depression, and reinforcement sensitivity in a sample of Mexican adults

Introduction

The study of food addiction (FA) has become relevant due to its high prevalence, the negative impact on quality of life, and its association with neuropsychological and psychiatric symptoms. Several studies have provided scientific support for these associations, however, the results are contradictory. Additionally, studies have unsuccessfully elucidated the true nature of the failures in executive functioning in people with FA symptomatology, particularly when it comes to executive deficits. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to establish whether the presence of executive dysfunction, depressive symptoms and binge eating problems, as well as high reward sensitivity entails a greater severity in FA traits and high body mass index (BMI) in a sample of Mexican adults.

Methods

The sample consisted of Mexican men and women between 21-59 years (n = 36); who completed self-report questionnaires and performance tests to measure the study variables. Additionally, BMI was estimated with self-reported height and weight.

Results

Our results showed that a high number of FA symptoms were associated with higher executive dysfunction scores, greater reward sensitivity, and more severe depressive and binge eating problems. Furthermore, factors that are more strongly associated with higher scores of FA include severe executive deficits, greater activation of the punishment avoidance system, and persistence in the search for reward when the depressive symptoms increased. The factors that best explained changes in the estimated BMI of women were a decreased crystallized intellectual capacity and the inability to control food intake as the number of FA symptoms increased.

Discussion

In summary, the cognitive functioning profile characterized by general failure of the executive functioning, as well as a greater activation of the Punishment Avoidance System and persistence in the search for reward, were associated with greater severity of FA symptoms, especially when the depressive symptomatology was severe. In parallel, the psychopathology in participants associated with FA confirms the contribution of anxious and depressive symptomatology and borderline personality traits which could facilitate the expression of clinically relevant FA symptoms in women. Finally, we found that decreased crystallized intellectual capacity and inability to control food intake were linked to higher BMI when the number of FA symptoms increased.

Evaluation of Psychological Well-Being Among Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study of Correlation Between Food Addiction and Cognitive Behavioral Physical Activity

Background

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between psychological well-being, food addiction, and cognitive behavioral physical activity among adolescents.

Methods

This descriptive study was conducted in a province in the east of Turkey with 936 adolescents using the "Psychological Well-Being Scale," the "Yale Food Addiction Scale," and the "Cognitive Behavioral Physical Activity Scale."

Results

In this study, the total score of adolescents from Psychological Well-Being Scale shows that their psychological well-being is below the average score. It was found that 29.4% of adolescents have a food addiction, and their attitudes and behaviors related to food addiction and participation in physical activity were moderate. It has been determined adolescents are aware of the benefits they can obtain as a result of their participation in physical activities. Also, it was found that there was a negatively significant relationship between psychological well-being and food addiction among adolescents.

Conclusion

Psychological well-being is a protective factor for food addiction. It was determined that food addiction increased as psychological well-being decreased among adolescents. It is believed that with an increase in the psychological well-being levels, the incidence of problems related to food addiction will decrease.

A cross-sectional study on the correlates of food addiction symptoms in adolescents seeking treatment for obesity: eating attitudes and gender differences

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Multidisciplinary approach including psychiatric support, have come to the fore in the treatment of obesity. Food addiction and disordered eating behaviors are among major psychiatric problems that have important effects on both clinical manifestation and response to treatment. This study aimed to investigate correlates of food addiction among adolescents who are seeking treatment for obesity.

METHOD

This study included 126 adolescents between 11 and 18 years of age, 48 patients in the "study group" who are seeking treatment for obesity (BMI for age greater than 95th percentile) and 78 adolescents (BMI for age under 85th percentile) in the "control group" who were reached via online survey. All participants were requested to complete self-report based measurement tools of Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and Eating Attitude Test-40 (EAT-40).

RESULTS

47.9% adolescents (n = 23) in the study group met food addiction diagnosis according to diagnostic evaluation of YFAS; which was significantly higher than 5.1% (n = 4) adolescents in the control group (p < 0.001). EAT-40 total scores and the scores in subscales of "anxiety of gaining weight," "dieting," and "thin body preoccupation" were significantly higher in the study group. Gender differences were observed when food addiction symptoms were correlated with eating attitudes among the study group.

CONCLUSIONS

Comparing to the controls, food addiction and disordered eating behaviors were more common in adolescents seeking treatment for obesity. Gender differences in the correlates of food addiction symptoms imply that different approaches might be needed for psychological interventions.