Intuitive Eating and Ultra Processed Food Addiction: Areas of Confluence and Divergence

This event is hosted by the AED Substance & Addictive Disorders SIG.  Please join the SIG to register or for more info.

The purpose of this presentation is to scrutinize the reported prevalence rates of ultra-processed food addiction across different weight classes. The reported weighted mean prevalence of ultra-processed food addiction is approximately 20% worldwide and varies widely based on the sample. At first glance, there appears a linear relationship between ultra-processed food addiction and BMI class. Further investigation indicates a J-shaped curve with heightened prevalence among the underweight. These findings highlight the need to assess additional factors that may increase objective or subjective food addiction symptoms including eating disorders, dietary restraint, and other mental health diagnoses. Clinicians are provided with practical considerations in the assessment of ultra-processed food addiction beyond the use of validated instruments. While clinical considerations across different weight classes vary, overemphasis on weight status may detract from the clinical utility of the ultra-processed food addiction construct. Considering other psychiatric symptoms helps to better understand the various biopsychosocial mechanisms that influence eating behavior and can inform individualized treatment strategies that minimize potential for harm when patients are inappropriately diagnosed or treated using the food addiction construct.