Food Addiction Research Articles

Assessing Discriminant Validity through Structural Equation Modeling: The Case of Eating Compulsivity.

Food addiction (FA) and disordered eating behaviors related to obesity are gaining attention in clinical and research fields. The modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (mYFAS2.0) is the gold standard questionnaire to measure FA, while another tool is the Measure of Eating Compulsivity 10 (MEC10). Discriminant validity is present when two measures of similar but distinct constructs show a correlation that is low enough for the factors to be regarded as distinct. However, the discriminant validity of these measures has never been tested. Through a cross-sectional study design, 717 inpatients (females: 56.20%, age: 53.681 ± 12.74) with severe obesity completed the MEC10, Binge Eating Scale (BES), and mYFAS2.0. A structural equation model (SEM) was fitted, freely estimating latent correlations with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The results confirmed the scales' excellent psychometric properties. Importantly, latent factor correlations between MEC10 and mYFAS2.0 (est = 0.783, 95% CI [0.76, 0.80]) supported their discriminant validity. In contrast, the latent correlation of MEC10 and BES (est = 0.86, 95% CI [0.84, 0.87]) exceeded the recommended thresholds, indicating the absence of discriminant validity and suggesting a potential overlap, consistent with previous evidence. In conclusion, MEC10 demonstrates excellent psychometric properties but is more a measure of BED and not FA.

Food addiction: Prevalence and its impact on Menoufia medical students

Food addiction: Prevalence and its impact on Menoufia medical students

Hedonic hunger, food addiction, and night eating syndrome triangle in adolescents and ıts relationship with body mass ındex

BackgroundThe relationship between adolescent obesity and eating disorders is an issue that needs urgent attention. Screening for eating disorders is as important as dietary interventions to treat obesity. This study aimed to determine the relationship between hedonic hunger, food addiction, and night eating syndrome, which are considered potential risk factors for obesity, and body mass index (BMI) in adolescents.MethodsThe data were collected through an online questionnaire. The “Power of Food Scale (PFS)” was used to assess hedonic hunger; the “Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children 2.0 (dYFAS-C 2.0)” was used to assess food addiction; and the “Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ)” was used to assess night eating syndrome (NES)”. BMI was calculated using self-reported height and weight values of adolescents. The mediated structural model analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of hedonic hunger on BMI z score via food addiction and NES.ResultsThe study was conducted with 614 voluntary adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years. The dYFAS-C 2.0 and NEQ scores were found to be higher in adolescents with overweight and obesity, and the BMI z-score of the adolescents had significant positive correlation with their PFS scores (p < .001). Hedonic hunger has no direct effect on BMI independent of food addiction and NES (β = − 0.051, p = .468), but when the total indirect effect is evaluated with the bootstrap analysis, it was found that one-unit increase in hedonic hunger score increases BMI z-score by approximately 0.22 units (β = 0.223, SE = 0.046, 95% CI 0.131–0.313). Hedonic hunger, food addiction, and NES together explained 5.2% of the total variance in BMI z score.ConclusionThis study showed that hedonic hunger significantly predicted BMI z-score in adolescents through food addiction and NES. This emphasizes the critical importance of evaluating adolescents in terms of hedonic hunger, food addiction, and NES in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of obesity.

Brand and addiction: A network analysis of scientific literature.

The paper conducts a network analysis of the fragmented literature on brand and addiction. A thematic map, thematic evolution, word cloud, co-citation analysis, and cooperation networks were utilized to identify brand addiction study trends and topics. The data show that marketing and psychiatry have interdisciplinary groupings and multidisciplinary publications. These groups reflect societal changes, particularly the shift from traditional to digital challenges. Fast food addiction is different from alcohol and cigarette addictions due to its ease and extensive marketing. The decline in internet and gambling addiction suggests a shift in priorities. This research helps researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in addiction prevention and intervention. The study also understands brand addiction and its effects on psychology, psychiatry, and management by providing insights into emerging topics, thematic maps and evolution of studies, collaboration opportunities, geographical distribution of studies, and more.

Short-term effects of semaglutide among patients with obesity with and without food addiction: an observational study

Introduction Food addiction (FA) is highly prevalent among people with obesity (PwO) and may constitute a key factor in weight loss failure or weight regain. GLP-1 analogues have been shown to act on the mesolimbic system, which is related to hedonic overeating and substance abuse. We aimed to study the effects of low doses of semaglutide on FA symptomatology and to evaluate whether the presence of FA have a negative impact on weight loss despite treatment with semaglutide. Methods One hundred and thirteen PwO (45.5 ± 10.2 years) were evaluated anthropometrically baseline and after four months of treatment with semaglutide. PwO were evaluated for the presence of FA by completing The Spanish version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 questionnaire (YFAS 2.0). Results Baseline BMI and fat mass (%) were greater among PwO with FA (35.8 ± 4.5 vs 33 ± 3.9 kg/m2and 44.2 ± 6.5 vs 40.1 ± 7.9%; p = .01). After four months of treatment with semaglutide, the prevalence of FA diminished from 57.5% to 4.2% (p < .001). The percentage of weight loss (6.9 ± 12.7 vs 5.3 ± 4.6%; p = .4) and the proportion of fat mass loss (2 ± 9 vs 1.6 ± 3.1%; p = .7) were comparable between PwO with and without FA. No differences regarding side effects and treatment discontinuations were seen between the two groups Conclusion Semaglutide is an effective tool for the amelioration of FA symptomatology among PwO. Despite PwO with FA had greater basal BMI and fat mass, semaglutide showed similar results compared to PwO without FA in terms of weight and fat mass loss at short term.

The dark side of applying Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology: behavioral intentions toward food addiction and food waste among food delivery applications’ users in China

The “Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology” (UTAUT) has been extensively employed to discover the factors driving positive adoption of new technologies. However, there is a lack of research on the potential adverse effects of UTAUT driving factors on user behavior. This study aims to fill this research gap by investigating the negative behavioral intentions of food delivery application (FDA) users based on a questionnaire administered in China (n = 428). Using structural-equation-modeling analysis, this study confirms the direct or indirect effects of various UTAUT driving factors, including “performance expectancy”, “effort expectancy”, “social influence”, “facilitating conditions”, “price value”, “hedonic motivation”, and “habit”, on FDA users’ food addiction and waste behavioral intentions. Furthermore, it also highlights the effect of food addiction on food waste. This research reveals more comprehensive driving factors of FDA users’ adverse behavioral intentions that have not been adequately explored in the existing literature, illustrating that elements commonly linked with technology adoption can profoundly strengthen the rewarding effects associated with food addiction and food waste. These findings suggest the potential value of applying UTAUT in predicting users’ adverse behaviors, presenting new avenues for more comprehensive studies and practices in responsible user management within IT-enabled hospitality and tourism businesses.

Investigation of Internalized Weight-Related Stigma: Progression to Dietary Addiction and the Role of Stress.

Internalizing weight stigma can lead to the development of dietary addiction, as individuals seek food as a coping mechanism for the emotional distress caused by stigma. The influence of stress exacerbates this dynamic, encouraging the reliance on food as a stress-coping strategy. Electronic questionnaires were completed in a special electronic form through an online platform. The Two-Factor Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-2F), the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), the DepressionAnxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Life Orientation Test (LOT), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) were used at this study to examine the prevalence of Internal Weight Stigma (IWS) among adults in Greece, evaluate the degrees of stress/anxiety, food addiction, mental resilience, emotions, and positive life perspectives within this group, and explore the correlations between stress/anxiety, mental resilience, optimistic life attitudes, and both IWS and food addiction. 376 participants completed the questionnaire. The average BMI of the participants was 26.3 kg/m2 (SD = 5.9 kg/m2). Almost half of the participants (46.8%) fell within the normal weight range (18.5 ≤ BMI ≤ 24.9), while 28.2% were classified as overweight and 21.0% as obese. Interestingly, a significant majority (63.1%) perceived themselves as heavier than the normal weight range suggests. Most participants demonstrated typical levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, with percentages of 67.3%, 64.9%, and 71.3%, respectively. Resilience exhibited positive associations with optimism and positive emotions while displaying negative connections with depression, anxiety, stress, and negative emotions. Additionally, individuals with greater optimism reported fewer symptoms of despair, anxiety, and stress. The research highlights the intricate dimensions of mental well-being, emphasizing the need for a holistic comprehension encompassing demographic, psychological, and societal factors. The results indicate potential strategies for intervention to boost resilience, and optimism, and tackle issues such as food addiction, underscoring the significance of fostering a positive body image and self-esteem.

Role of Worry in Addiction: Implication of Metacognitive Beliefs and Type 2 Worry.

According to the self-medication hypothesis, worriers use substances to cope with their symptoms; however, some published results have challenged this hypothesis. The aim of this study is to show if worry increases the risk of SUD when it is negatively appraised by negative metacognitive beliefs. We recruited three samples: 68 patients with a severe AUD, 27 patients dependent on eating and 42 control participants. We used the Yale Food Addiction Scale-2, the Metacognitions Questionnaire-65, the UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale and the Anxiety Thoughts Inventory. We confirmed a direct effect of worries and metaworry on alcohol (AUD) and eating addiction (EA), but our multivariate analyses revealed that metacognitive beliefs and metaworry are the most robust predictors of alcohol and eating addiction. We reported substance-related differences in the relationship between worry and addiction. AUD is related to the metacognitive activity set in motion by worries while EA is associated with a maladaptive form of worry (meta-worry) where worries are negatively interpreted.

Scientific review on Junk Food Addiction: Understanding Influences, methods to Control and Indian Alternatives

This paper delves into the observational study on junk food addiction, shedding light on its prevalence across different age groups and from different demographies. By observing their food habits and investigating the scientific triggers that cause them to consume despite knowing its adverse effects, as well as external influences like easy availability, peer groups, and parental behaviour, the research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue. The study also identifies hazardous chemicals associated with such foods and proposes methods to control and mitigate junk food addiction in a simple way from traditional Indian cuisine.

Confirmatory factor analysis and gender invariance of Persian version of the modified Yale food addiction scale (mPYFAS) 2.0: insight from a large scale Iranian sample

BackgroundThe Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0) was developed with the primary objective of evaluating food addiction (FA). The present study aimed to undertake the translation, pilot testing, and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the mYFAS 2.0 within the Persian-speaking population.MethodsThe transcultural adaptation of the mYFAS 2.0 to the Persian language was conducted. Data collection was carried out through an anonymous online questionnaire. Participants completed the Persian versions of the mYFAS 2.0, Binge Eating Scale (BES), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11), and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). The assessment encompassed the evaluation of internal consistency reliability, factor structure, as well as convergent and discriminant validity of the aforementioned questionnaires.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis revealed that the single-factor model of the Persian translation of mYFAS 2.0 performed satisfactorily, with comparative fit index (CFI) and Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) values exceeding 0.95, standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) less than or equal to 0.09, and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) below 0.03. The internal consistency and composite reliability of the mYFAS 2.0 were favorable in the entire sample, as well as in both male and female groups, with alpha (α) values of 0.83, ordinal alpha (αord) of 0.93, and composite reliability (CR) of 0.86. Additionally, significant relationships were observed between the total score of BES (r = 0.59, p < 0.001), BIS-11 (r = − 0.16, p < 0.001), and CD-RISC (r = 0.22, p < 0.001) with mYFAS 2.0-diagnosed FA presence, severity, and symptom count.ConclusionsThe Persian version of the mYFAS 2.0 exhibited satisfactory psychometric properties.

Food cravings after bariatric surgery: comparing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

BackgroundResearch suggests that food choices, preferences, and tastes change after bariatric surgery, but evidence regarding changes in food cravings is mixed.ObjectivesThe primary aim of this cohort study was to compare food cravings during the first year following bariatric surgery in patients who had undergone sleeve gastrectomy (SG) versus Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).SettingIntegrated multispecialty health system, United States.MethodsPatients aged ≥ 18 years seen between May 2017 and July 2019, provided informed consent, completed the Food Craving Inventory (FCI), and had ≥ 1 year of follow-up after undergoing primary SG or RYGB were included in the study. Secondary data captured included psychological and behavioral measures. Preoperative and postoperative (3, 6, 9, and 12 months) FCI scores of patients who underwent SG and RYGB were compared.ResultsSome attrition occurred postoperatively (N = 187 at baseline, 141 at 3 months, 108 at 6 months, 89 at 9 months, and 84 at 12 months). No significant relationship between pre- or postoperative food cravings and surgery type was found except on the carbohydrate subscale. Patients with higher preoperative food addiction symptoms were not more likely to experience an earlier reoccurrence of food cravings during the first 12 months after surgery. Likewise, patients with higher levels of preoperative depression and anxiety were not more likely to have early reoccurrence of food cravings during the first 12 months after surgery; however, those with higher PHQ9 scores at baseline had uniformly higher food craving scores at all timepoints (pre-surgery, 3 m, 6 m, 9 m, and 12 m).ConclusionsResults suggest that food cravings in the year after bariatric surgery are equivalent by surgery type and do not appear to be related to preoperative psychological factors or eating behaviors.Level of evidenceLevel III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort.

A three-arm randomised controlled trial of a telehealth intervention targeting improvement in addictive eating for Australian adults (the TRACE program)

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.

On the prevalence of 'food addiction' in persons with bulimia nervosa.

A meta-analysis by Praxedes and colleagues published in this journal reports that the prevalence of 'food addiction' as measured with the Yale Food Addiction Scale is lower than 50% in persons with bulimia nervosa and higher in persons with binge eating disorder. However, closely examining the supplementary material of that article reveals that these numbers cannot possibly be correct. Instead, most studies indicate that the prevalence of 'food addiction' is higher than 80% in persons with bulimia nervosa and, thus, higher than in persons with other eating disorders.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with food addiction in Brazilian women living in poverty.

Food addiction (FA) has been widely investigated. For the first time, two studies reported its association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in the general population and populations with mental disorders and undergoing bariatric surgery. However, the relationship between FA and DM2 needs to be better explored in different social contexts and population groups. Given this, the present study aims to evaluate whether DM2 diagnosis is associated with FA diagnosis in women living in poverty. This is a cross-sectional, population-based study conducted in a Brazilian capital city. FA was assessed by the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale (mYFAS) 2.0, and DM2 diagnosis was assessed by self-reporting of previous medical diagnosis. The association was assessed by multivariable Poisson regression with robust variance estimation adjusted for age, poverty situation, race/skin colour, physical activity and BMI. A total of 1878 women were included, of whom 15·1 % had FA and 3·2 % had a medical diagnosis of DM2. In the multivariable analysis, the medical diagnosis of DM2 was associated with FA (prevalence ratio, PR: 2·18; 95 % CI (1·26, 3·76)). The DM2 diagnosis was also identified to be associated with role interference (PR: 1·93; 95 % CI (1·01, 3·67)) symptom of FA. In conclusion, a positive association between FA and DM2 in women living in poverty was observed, information that adds to the current evidence already available in the literature, pointing to a new line of research and integrated care.

Food Addiction Prevalence and its Association with COVID-19 Related Stress among Clinical Rotation Medical Students in Jakarta

Food Addiction Prevalence and its Association with COVID-19 Related Stress among Clinical Rotation Medical Students in Jakarta

Food selection in a buffet scenario by persons in recovery from substance use disorder: Testing a parallel mediation model including impulsivity, food craving, and breadth of drug use

Elevated food cravings and higher food consumption and body weight have been reported in studies of people in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). In a previous study, SUD recovery status predicted the energy from selected food images in a virtual buffet meal, most strongly in those with high reward responsiveness. The present study was conducted to determine which psychological variables might mediate the relationship between SUD recovery status and food selection and to replicate the finding that reward responsiveness moderated this relationship. In an online study, 216 women and men (109 in recovery from SUD) were asked to choose from among 16 food images in an all-you-can-eat buffet scenario. Food craving, impulsivity, “food addiction”, irrational food beliefs, anhedonia, and breadth of drug use were examined as potential mediators while reward responsiveness was examined as a potential moderator. The amount of energy in the selected foods was the outcome variable. Results indicated that breadth of drug use was a mediator; being in SUD recovery predicted higher variety of drug use which predicted higher food selection. However, reward responsiveness did not moderate the relationship between SUD recovery status and energy from the selected foods. Exploratory analysis indicated that lack of premeditation, a measure of impulsivity, with food craving partially mediated the relationship between breadth of drug use and energy from selected foods and that lack of premeditation fully mediated it for sweet foods. The results confirm an association between substance use and food selection and suggest a mechanism via impulsivity.

Factors increasing the risk for food addiction in Ecuadorian students.

Food addiction (FA) is a construct that has gained interest in recent years, but its relevance in the Ecuadorian population has not yet been explored. The aims of this study were to explore the differences in the psychological profile (including FA) between university students from Ecuador and to identify the underlying structure of the relationships of the FA severity level through a mediational model. The sample consisted of 972 university students, women and men (mean age: 20.1 years old, SD = 2.6), recruited from four Ecuadorian regions. The assessment tools included a unidimensional scale of FA, eating-related measures, emotion regulation state, impulsivity, and psychopathology state. Path analysis modeled the direct and indirect effects explaining the FA severity level. The results indicated that higher psychopathological levels were associated with FA. Similarly, no differences in FA were observed between the Ecuadorian regions. The path analysis suggested that older age, female sex, and higher difficulties in emotional regulation, impulsivity, negative mood, and anxiety trigger disordered eating; subsequently, more impaired eating behavior impacted the FA level. FA is a complex clinical entity that includes multiple components related to eating disorders (EDs) and other mental health problems. The results of this study provide empirical knowledge for designing evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies.

Motives for Caffeine Consumption Questionnaire (MCCQ): validity and reliability of Turkish version

ObjectivesThe aims of this study are to make the Turkish validity and reliability of the scale that explain why caffeine intake. Additionally, it is crucial to highlight that the adaptation of the scale involved a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to validate its structure and the need for this adaptation in the Turkish context.Materials and methodsThe study was carried out with a total of 200 university students, comprised of 93.5% female and 6.5% male participants, with a mean age of 21.74 ± 6.15 years who were actively studying in the faculties of the universities who accepted to participate voluntarily in the study were included. The Turkish version of the Motives for Caffeine Consumption Questionnaire (MCCQ) scale and the MCCQ was used as the data collection tools. To evaluate the statistical analysis findings, the margin of error was taken as 5%. The entire application was carried out with the R-project software. CFA was used to test the adaptation of the MCCQ scale from English to Turkish.ResultsThe alpha internal consistency coefficient for the whole scale was calculated as 0.959. Just like the original scale, the Turkish version shows a six-factor structure: habit, alertness, mood, social, taste, and symptom management. In MCCQ-TR, it showed a low level of positive correlation with Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS). For the final scale with 23 items and 6 sub-dimensions, it was determined that the fit indices were at an acceptable level, and the internal consistency was highly reliable for all sub-dimensions and the total scale.ConclusionsIt has been determined that the Turkish version of the MCCQ is a valid and reliable measurement tool to operationalize the motives of caffeine consumption and to reveal possible differences in the motives regarding gender, age, and the type of caffeinated products consumed. The use of CFA in adapting the scale ensures the robustness of the structural validity in the Turkish context, making this adaptation a valuable contribution to the field.

Food addiction and the physical and mental health status of adults with overweight and obesity.

Overweight and obesity now affect more than a third of the world's population. They are strongly associated with somatic diseases, in particular increasing the risk of many metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, but also with mental disorders. In particular, there is a strong association between obesity and depression. As a result, more attention is paid to the neurobiological, behavioural, and psychological mechanisms involved in eating. One of these is food addiction (FA). Research comparing lifestyle elements, physical and mental health problems of excess body weight and individuals with FA is limited and has focused on younger people, mainly students. There is also a lack of studies that relate actual metabolic parameters to FA. To better understand the problem of FA also in older adults, it is important to understand the specific relationships between these variables. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 172 adults with overweight and obesity (82% female) aged 23-85 years. The mean age of all subjects was M = 59.97 years (SD = 11.93), the mean BMI was M = 32.05 kg/m2 (SD = 4.84), and the mean body fat was M = 39.12% (SD = 6.48). The following questionnaires were used: Food Frequency Questionnaire-6 (FFQ-6), Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18 (TFEQ-R18), Yale Food Addiction Scale 2. 0 (YFAS 2.0), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Body composition, anthropometry, fasting glucose, lipid profile, and blood pressure were measured. A total of 22.7% of participants with overweight and obesity had symptoms of depression according to the SDS, and 18.6% met the criteria for FA according to YFAS 2.0. FA was statistically significantly more common among people up to 50 years. BMI, body fat mass, diastolic blood pressure and sedentary behaviour were statistically significantly higher in people with FA symptoms. Those who were sedentary for 301-450 min per day were significantly more likely to have depressive symptoms, and those who were sedentary for more than 450 min per day were significantly more likely to have FA symptoms. Our findings complement the current literature on FA, particularly in older adults and metabolic parameters, and suggest further research directions. Although our cross-sectional study design does not allow causal interpretations, increasing physical activity appears to be particularly important in the management of people with overweight or obesity and FA. This may be even more important than for people with depression alone, but future research is needed to explore these relationships further.

Does how individuals handle social situations exacerbate the relationship between physique anxiety and food addiction? The role of emotional expressive suppression and social avoidance and distress.

Research on food addiction has increased significantly in recent years. It has been demonstrated that food addiction can lead to impairments in physiological, psychological, and social functioning in individuals. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the influence of how individuals handle social situations on food addiction and the specific mechanisms involved. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1,151 university students, with a mean age of 21.44 (SD=4.77) years. The sample comprised 74.46% female and 25.54% male students. Participants completed the Chinese version of the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, the Social Physique Anxiety Scale, the Expressive Suppression Scale, and the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0 and the Process (Version 3.4) plug-in. The results of the study supported our hypothesis that the association between social physique anxiety and food addiction symptoms could be partially explained by expressive suppression and social avoidance and distress. This association remained significant even after adjusting for covariates such as gender, number of cigarettes smoked per day, bedtime, education, and BMI. Specifically, more severe social physique anxiety was found to be associated with frequent use of expressive suppression and social avoidance and distress, which in turn was associated with more severe food addiction symptoms. This study explored the role of expression suppression and social avoidance and distress in the relationship between social physique anxiety and food addiction symptoms. The findings provide a theoretical basis for developing interventions for food addiction in college students. These interventions could include helping students develop a healthy perception of body image, encouraging emotional expression, and promoting active social participation to reduce food addiction symptoms.