The impact of food addiction and emotional eating behavior on obesity in obese women

Obesity is a chronic and progressive public health problem that is increasingly prevalent worldwide, adversely affecting individuals' physical, social, and mental health. Emotional eating and food addiction are two distinct concepts that influence eating behaviors and are shaped by psychological, neurological, and environmental factors. Emotional eating is a coping mechanism that emerges in response to negative emotions such as stress, anger, and sadness, whereas food addiction is characterized by a loss of control over food intake and the development of an addiction, particularly toward foods high in carbohydrates and fat. These behaviors make it difficult to regulate energy intake, thereby increasing the risk of obesity and complicating weight management. This study aimed to investigate the attitudes and behaviors related to food addiction and emotional eating among obese women and to examine their impact on existing obesity. The research was conducted with a total of 120 voluntary obese women who applied to three different nutrition counseling centers in Istanbul, with a mean age of 37.90 ± 11.96 years. A questionnaire prepared by the researcher was used, including sociodemographic information, anthropometric measurements, physical activity level, dietary history, 24-hour food consumption and frequency. Additionally, the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and the Emotional Eating Scale (EES) were administered through face-to-face interviews.The frequency of food consumption, energy, and nutrient intake of the study group were compared with the reference values of the Turkish Nutrition Guide (TÜBER), and it was found that participants had a sufficient and balanced diet. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of the participants was 30.87 ± 4.61 kg/m², and 48.3% were classified as overweight (25.00–29.99 kg/m²). The mean EES score was 78.67 ± 21.88; emotional eating behavior was observed in 49.16% (n=59) of the participants, while 50.84% (n=61) did not exhibit this behavior. According to the YFAS, the prevalence of food addiction was 32.50% (n=39), and the sub-criteria of "consumption over a longer period than intended," "reduction in social and occupational activities," "excessive time spent obtaining and using the substance," "withdrawal symptoms," and "clinically significant impairment" were found to be significantly more common among individuals diagnosed with food addiction (p<0.05). Furthermore, the mean number of symptoms was statistically higher in women with food addiction (p<0.05). Among those with food addiction, certain foods such as chocolate, cake/pastries, and bread were found to be more problematic; additionally, bread, rice, bagels, French fries, and processed meat products caused significantly more issues for these women (p<0.05). Food addiction and emotional eating behavior were more prevalent among individuals who were overweight (25.00–29.99 kg/m²), at risk for abdominal obesity, and who had a sedentary lifestyle. Although food addiction and emotional eating rates appeared to decrease as BMI increased, no significant correlation was found between them (p>0.05). In terms of nutrient intake, no significant differences were found between the groups except for water and selenium; women with food addiction consumed significantly less water and more selenium (p=0.001). These findings suggest that emotional eating and food addiction behaviors may be associated with obesity, and incorporating these factors into obesity treatment plans could enhance positive health outcomes. However, these relationships need to be supported by more comprehensive studies Keywords: Obesity, emotional eatingi, food addictı