B Tinghino1, F Lugoboni2, A Amatulli3, C Biasin4, M Bramani Araldi5, D Cantiero4, M Cremaschini6, G L Galimberti7, S Giusti2, C Grosina8, G E G Mulazzani9, U Nizzoli10. 1. UO Alcologia e Nuove Dipendenze, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale e Dipendenze, ASST di Vimercate, Vimercate, Italy. biagio.tinghino@asst-vimercate.it. 2. UO Medicina delle Dipendenze, Ospedale Universitario di Verona, Verona, Italy. 3. Dipartimento di Salute Mentale e Dipendenze, ASST di Vimercate, Vimercate, Italy. 4. SER.D ULSS 9 Scaligera, Verona, UOC Bussolengo e Legnago, Legnago, Italy. 5. UO Tossicodipendenze, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale e Dipendenze, ASST di Vimercate, Vimercate, Italy. 6. Dipartimento Cure Primarie, ATS di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy. 7. UOSD Dipendenze, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale e Dipendenze, ASST di Monza, Monza, Italy. 8. UO Alcologia e Nuove Dipendenze, Dipartimento di Salute Mentale e Dipendenze, ASST di Vimercate, Vimercate, Italy. 9. Medico specializzando in Scienza dell'Alimentazione, Università Statale di Milano, Milano, Italy. 10. Società Italiana Studio Disturbi Comportamento Alimentare, SISDCA, Roma, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The main focus of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of food addiction (FA) in a population of 575 subjects, all affected by drugs, alcohol and/or tobacco addiction. METHODS: Patients were enrolled in Addiction Service Centers and 25 items YFAS questionnaire was administered. Prevalence of FA was studied among patients who already have an addiction and then this prevalence was compared between groups of abusers (by type of substance), comparing mono abusers with polyabusers, as well as regressions by age, BMI, sex, through multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Prevalence of FA in the sample is 20.17%. Risk of FA increases with the number of substances used (polyabuse). Results show a positive correlation, in addicted people, between BMI values and FA, with significant values (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.04-1.13; p = 0.006). Age is inversely correlated with FA (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.95-0.99; p = 0.01). Female sex is positively associated (OR 2.60; 95% CI 1.59-4.27, p = 0.000). No significant association appears with any substance, even if the highest prevalence is recorded among cannabis users (31.03%), and heroin (21.07%), followed by cocaine (18.53%), alcohol (14.49%) and tobacco (11.61%). A comparison between the FA prevalence in our study and that from another study in the Italian general population (11%) shows a significant difference (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of FA among addicted people is greater than in the general population. Risk of FA increases with the increase in number of used substances (polyabuse). Age is inversely correlated with FA. There is a positive and significant correlation between BMI and FA among substance/tobacco abusers. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, observational cross-sectional descriptive study.
OBJECTIVES: The main focus of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of food addiction (FA) in a population of 575 subjects, all affected by drugs, alcohol and/or tobacco addiction. METHODS: Patients were enrolled in Addiction Service Centers and 25 items YFAS questionnaire was administered. Prevalence of FA was studied among patients who already have an addiction and then this prevalence was compared between groups of abusers (by type of substance), comparing mono abusers with polyabusers, as well as regressions by age, BMI, sex, through multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Prevalence of FA in the sample is 20.17%. Risk of FA increases with the number of substances used (polyabuse). Results show a positive correlation, in addicted people, between BMI values and FA, with significant values (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.04-1.13; p = 0.006). Age is inversely correlated with FA (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.95-0.99; p = 0.01). Female sex is positively associated (OR 2.60; 95% CI 1.59-4.27, p = 0.000). No significant association appears with any substance, even if the highest prevalence is recorded among cannabis users (31.03%), and heroin (21.07%), followed by cocaine (18.53%), alcohol (14.49%) and tobacco (11.61%). A comparison between the FA prevalence in our study and that from another study in the Italian general population (11%) shows a significant difference (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of FA among addicted people is greater than in the general population. Risk of FA increases with the increase in number of used substances (polyabuse). Age is inversely correlated with FA. There is a positive and significant correlation between BMI and FA among substance/tobacco abusers. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, observational cross-sectional descriptive study.