School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, 2308, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, 2308, Australia.
School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, 2308, Australia.
Appetite. 2021 Apr 1;159:105054. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2020.105054. Epub 2020 Nov 25.
Research in the area of food addiction is continuing to increase with recent reviews suggesting that food addiction is a distinctive condition that has many symptoms similar to substance use disorders. The current study explored the perspectives and experiences of Australian adults seeking treatment for addictive eating. Quantitative data for this study was collected via self-report questionnaires completed online, including demographics, the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. Qualitative data was collected via semi-structured interviews using open-ended questions about the individual experience of food addiction and perspectives regarding intervention and recovery. Interview data was available for 34 participants, with the majority (n = 33) being females who were overweight, (mean ± SD age = 42.9 ± 13.2 years, BMI=36.5 ± 6.8 kg/m). Stress (19.9 ± 11.4 out of 21) and depression (16.8 ± 10.2 out of 21) were the most prominent negative emotional states. Thematic analysis identified two themes of compulsion and control. Compulsion distinguished the participants' experiences related to addictive eating behaviours, in particular the notion of craving. Control encompassed their perception of both the processes and outcomes of overcoming their addictive eating. The two themes identified were not mutually exclusive, and relationships between them and their influence on each other were observable. This study provides a unique contribution to understanding adults' experience of food addiction by highlighting the strong desire to be in control of eating behaviours, and the inability of participants to overcome their compulsions to eat specific food despite minimal anticipation of positive effect.
食物成瘾领域的研究在不断增加，最近的综述表明，食物成瘾是一种独特的病症，具有许多与物质使用障碍相似的症状。本研究探讨了澳大利亚寻求治疗成瘾性饮食的成年人的观点和经验。本研究的定量数据通过在线自我报告问卷收集，包括人口统计学资料、耶鲁食物成瘾量表 2.0 和抑郁、焦虑和压力量表 21。定性数据通过半结构化访谈收集，使用关于个体食物成瘾体验的开放式问题以及关于干预和康复的观点。共有 34 名参与者提供了访谈数据，其中大多数（n=33）为女性，超重（平均±标准差年龄=42.9±13.2 岁，BMI=36.5±6.8kg/m）。压力（21 分中的 19.9±11.4）和抑郁（21 分中的 16.8±10.2）是最突出的负面情绪状态。主题分析确定了两个主题：强迫和控制。强迫区分了参与者与成瘾性饮食行为相关的体验，特别是渴望的概念。控制包括他们对克服成瘾性饮食的过程和结果的看法。确定的两个主题并非相互排斥，并且可以观察到它们之间的关系及其相互影响。本研究通过强调对控制饮食行为的强烈渴望，以及参与者尽管对积极效果的预期最小，但无法克服对特定食物的进食冲动，为理解成年人的食物成瘾体验做出了独特贡献。
