Journal article
The Prevalence of Food Addiction Among Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), Vol.30, pp.224-224
01 Nov 2022
Abstract
Background: Some individuals experience clinically significant indicators of addictive-like eating with ultra-processed foods (UPFs) (i.e., sweets, salty snacks) that parallel DSM-5 criteria for substanceuse disorders, operationalized by food addiction (FA). Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a reproductive disorder driven by insulin resistance, have higher rates of problematic overeating behaviors with UPFs, suggesting heightened susceptibility to the reinforcing natures of UPFs. Understanding factors driving UPF intake in these women is important, as UPFs can worsen insulin resistance and thus PCOS symptoms. It is unknown whether women with PCOS are more likely to exhibit FA. Methods: Women in the United States (n=365, M=36.8 SD=9.4) completed online self-report questionnaires on Amazon Mechanical Turk, including demographics and the Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0) to assess FA. The mYFAS 2.0 symptom score represents endorsement of the 11 FA symptoms and the diagnostic score reflects endorsement of 2+ symptoms and distress/impairment. Half of participants (n=181) were categorized as having PCOS by reporting being diagnosed by a doctor and at least 2 out of 3 Rotterdam criteria. Remaining participants (n=184) self-reported never being diagnosed with PCOS. Results: One-way ANOVA revealed that women with PCOS had significantly higher mYFAS 2.0 symptom count scores (M=6.23, SD=3.82) (F(1, 366)=101.07, p<.001), compared to women without PCOS (M=2.47, SD=3.39). Chi-Square Test of Independence revealed that women with versus without PCOS had higher rates of mYFAS 2.0 diagnoses X2 (1, N=365)= 49.89, p<.001, (75.2% versus 24.8%). Conclusions: Women with PCOS had significantly increased symptoms of addictive UPF consumption and a higher prevalence rate of FA. Addictive-like intake of UPFs may be an under-recognized contributor that worsens insulin resistance among women with PCOS and may interfere with adherence to healthcare providers recommendations to pursue weight loss.
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Details
- Title
- The Prevalence of Food Addiction Among Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- Creators
- Karly DerrigoErica LaFata
- Publication Details
- Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), Vol.30, pp.224-224
- Publisher
- Blackwell Publishing Ltd
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- WELL Center
- Identifiers
- 991020836372304721