Food Addiction and Binge Eating Disorder in Relation to Dietary Patterns and Anthropometric Measurements: A Descriptive-Analytic Cross-Sectional Study in Iranian Adults with Obesity

Abstract

Obesity is associated with maladaptive eating behaviors, including food addiction (FA) and binge eating disorder (BED). However, the key factors influencing the development of maladaptive eating behaviors remain unknown. Adherence to specified dietary patterns has been suspected of making indirect impacts. This study investigates the association of FA and BED with dietary patterns and anthropometric measurements among 400 Iranian adults (aged 18–60; 66.25% women) living with obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m²). The Binge Eating Scale and Yale Food Addiction Scale were used to measure BED and FA. A validated 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire underwent principal component analysis and identified three major dietary patterns: mixed, unhealthy, and healthy dietary pattern. After adjusting for confounders, higher adherence to unhealthy dietary patterns was associated with an increased risk of FA, while higher adherence to healthy dietary patterns was associated with a lower risk of FA. Also, those within obesity class III had a significantly higher risk of FA and BED than those in obesity class I. This study suggests that adherence to an unhealthy dietary pattern may be associated with a higher risk of FA. It also highlights the link between higher BMI and maladaptive eating behaviors.

Keywords:

• food addiction
• binge eating disorder
• dietary pattern
• obesity
• anthropometric measurements

Acknowledgements

We thank the staff of the Specialized Clinic of obesity located at Sina Hospital under the supervision of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran and appreciate the valued contribution of the participants for this study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services.