Comparison of food addiction status between obese and non-obese individuals: a cross sectional study

Aims: To compare the prevalence and correlates of food addiction (FA) between adults with and without obesity and to identify which Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) criteria are independently associated with obesity. Methods: This cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted at a family medicine outpatient clinic in Turkiye (January–April 2024). Adults aged 18–64 years who completed all questionnaires were included. Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m². FA was assessed using the original YFAS diagnostic algorithm (≥3 symptoms plus clinically significant impairment/distress). Demographics, lifestyle, obesity history, and self-reported overconsumption of specific foods were recorded. Group comparisons used appropriate parametric/non-parametric and χ²/Fisher tests; logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Among 340 participants (mean age 36.0 years; 70.0% female), FA prevalence was 21.8% (74/340). Compared with FA negative peers, FA-positive participants had higher BMI (median 31.8 vs 26.25 kg/m²) and more obesity (59.5% vs 30.1%; both p