Sugar addiction and its role in obesity among adolescents residing in an urban field practice area of Bagalkot: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Obesity, a multi-factorial process is showing an increasing trend among children and adolescents leading to increased prevalence of insulin resistance, paving the way for cardio-metabolic risk factors. It has been proposed that certain food items as well as eating habits are addictive in a way that is similar to substances of abuse. Thus, this study was conducted among adolescents to determine the frequency of sugar addiction, the influencing factors and its association with obesity. A cross-sectional study was designed and 250 late adolescents (17–19 years old) chosen from colleges coming under urban field practice area of Bagalkot were enrolled in the study. A self-administered questionnaire which consisted of three sections - socio-demographic details, validated Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale (mYFAS) and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) was used to collect data regarding sugar addiction and physical activity in our study. Sugar addiction was found among 7.6%of adolescents and it was associated with overweight and obesity which was statistically significant (X=42.72, p<0.0001). Factors which significantly contributed to sugar addiction among adolescents were; adolescents staying in hostel (p<0.001), working mother’s (p<0.0001) and socio-economic status (p=0.02). Univariate analysis (unadjusted odds ratio) showed that risk factors such as sugar addiction (Odds ratio 9.6, 95% C.I. 2.18-42.8, p=0.003) and reduced physical activity (Odds ratio 3.8, 95% C.I. 2.02-7.26, p=0.0001) were associated with overweight and obesity.Incorporation of measures against hyper palatable sugary foods into public health policy recommendations and a further detailed evaluation regarding sugar addiction may provide a new insight and help in prevention and treatment of obesity.