Relationship of food addiction to weight loss and attrition during obesity treatment

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between food addiction (FA) and weight and attrition outcomes in overweight and obese adults participating in weight loss interventions were prospectively examined in this study. DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants were 178 adults (51.2 ± 11.7 y, 36.1 ± 4.8 kg/m(2) ) in one of two outpatient weight loss treatment programs for approximately 6 months. The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) assessed FA diagnosis and symptom count. The relationship between FA and weight loss and attrition was assessed. RESULTS: After controlling for treatment arm, gender, and baseline weight, there was no effect of FA status on weight loss (P = 0.17) or attrition (P = 0.37). Similarly, baseline FA symptom count was not associated with weight loss (P = 0.14) or attrition (P = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: Neither FA status nor symptom count affects weight loss or attrition during weight loss treatment.