Prevalence of food addiction determined by the Yale Food Addiction Scale and associated factors: A systematic review with meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational prevalence studies (level by design analogy)
PubMed 34953001 · doi:10.1002/erv.2878
What was done
Authors conducted a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis across seven databases (MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, LILACS, PsycArticles, CENTRAL, Greylit.org, and OpenGrey.eu) to calculate the weighted prevalence of food addiction assessed by the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and its derivatives. Two independent reviewers determined study eligibility, and subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to investigate heterogeneity.
What was found
From 6,425 screened records, 272 studies met inclusion criteria. The overall weighted mean prevalence of food addiction was 20% (95% CI: 18% to 21%). Prevalence was higher in clinical than non-clinical samples, reaching 55% (95% CI: 34% to 75%) among individuals with a clinical diagnosis of binge eating. Only two studies evaluated children exclusively, and no studies evaluated only elderly individuals.
Why it matters
This review establishes a baseline synthesis of food addiction research, demonstrating that approximately one in five surveyed individuals meet YFAS criteria, with the highest burden concentrated in clinical eating disorder populations.
Limits
All included data derive from self-report instruments (YFAS and derivatives) rather than objective or clinically validated diagnostic criteria. Substantial heterogeneity exists across subgroups (reflected in wide confidence intervals), and there is a near-total absence of data for pediatric and elderly populations.
Cited by
- supports According to the Yale Food Addiction Scale, 14% of the global population, including 14% of children, meets the criteria for food addiction, comparable to the roughly 14% rate of alcohol addiction.