Paul Brunault1,2,3,4, Pierre-Henri Ducluzeau3,5,6, Robert Courtois1,2, Céline Bourbao-Tournois3,7, Irène Delbachian3,4, Christian Réveillère2, Nicolas Ballon1,3,4. 1. a Équipe de Liaison et de Soins en Addictologie & Clinique Psychiatrique Universitaire , CHRU de Tours , Tours , France. 2. b Département de Psychologie EA 2114 "Psychologie des Ages de la Vie" , Université de Tours , Tours , France. 3. c Centre Spécialisé pour la prise en charge de l'Obésité sévère , CHRU de Tours , Tours , France. 4. d INSERM U1253 iBrain Brain & Imaging , Université de Tours , Tours , France. 5. e Service de Médecine Interne-Nutrition , CHRU de Tours , Tours , France. 6. f INSERM UMR 1069 , Université de Tours , Tours , France. 7. g Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Endocrinienne , CHRU de Tours , Tours , France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The "food addiction" phenotype identifies a subpopulation of individuals experiencing substance-dependence symptoms toward specific foods. In the current debate on whether the "food addiction" phenotype should be considered as an addictive disorder, assessment of the personality traits associated with this phenotype would provide arguments for or against the "food addiction" phenotype and its inclusion in the "substance-related and addictive disorder" category. OBJECTIVES: To assess the personality characteristics associated with the "food addiction" phenotype in obesity surgery candidates (i.e., big five personality dimensions, alexithymia and impulsivity). METHODS: We assessed food addiction (Yale Food Addiction Scale), personality dimensions (Big Fig Inventory), impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11th version) and alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 items) in 188 bariatric surgery candidates recruited between July 2013 and November 2015 in the Nutrition Department of the University Hospital of Tours. We used chi-squared tests and Student's tests or Mann-Whitney-U-tests to determine the factors associated with food addiction. RESULTS: Prevalence of current food addiction was 16.5%. Patients with (vs. without) food addiction had lower conscientiousness (p = .047), higher neuroticism and lower extraversion (ps < 0.001), but there was no difference in terms of agreeableness (p = 0.42) or openness (p = 0.16). They were more frequently single (p = .021) and reported higher alexithymia (ps < .001) and higher impulsivity sub-scores (ps<.05). Conclusions/Importance: Food addiction shares personality traits with substance-related disorders (regarding neuroticism, conscientiousness, impulsivity, alexithymia), and one distinctive trait (low extraversion). This study provides additional data that enrich the discussion on whether the "food addiction" phenotype should be included or not in the "substance-related and addictive disorder" category.
BACKGROUND: The "food addiction" phenotype identifies a subpopulation of individuals experiencing substance-dependence symptoms toward specific foods. In the current debate on whether the "food addiction" phenotype should be considered as an addictive disorder, assessment of the personality traits associated with this phenotype would provide arguments for or against the "food addiction" phenotype and its inclusion in the "substance-related and addictive disorder" category. OBJECTIVES: To assess the personality characteristics associated with the "food addiction" phenotype in obesity surgery candidates (i.e., big five personality dimensions, alexithymia and impulsivity). METHODS: We assessed food addiction (Yale Food Addiction Scale), personality dimensions (Big Fig Inventory), impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11th version) and alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 items) in 188 bariatric surgery candidates recruited between July 2013 and November 2015 in the Nutrition Department of the University Hospital of Tours. We used chi-squared tests and Student's tests or Mann-Whitney-U-tests to determine the factors associated with food addiction. RESULTS: Prevalence of current food addiction was 16.5%. Patients with (vs. without) food addiction had lower conscientiousness (p = .047), higher neuroticism and lower extraversion (ps < 0.001), but there was no difference in terms of agreeableness (p = 0.42) or openness (p = 0.16). They were more frequently single (p = .021) and reported higher alexithymia (ps < .001) and higher impulsivity sub-scores (ps<.05). Conclusions/Importance: Food addiction shares personality traits with substance-related disorders (regarding neuroticism, conscientiousness, impulsivity, alexithymia), and one distinctive trait (low extraversion). This study provides additional data that enrich the discussion on whether the "food addiction" phenotype should be included or not in the "substance-related and addictive disorder" category.
Authors: José Manuel Otero-López; María José Santiago; María Cristina Castro Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-01-19 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Sahar Obeid; Anna Brytek-Matera; Souheil Hallit; Feten Fekih-Romdhane; Toni Sawma; Marwan Akel Journal: Int J Ment Health Addict Date: 2022-09-12 Impact factor: 11.555