Diet significantly impacts food addiction, and various studies revealed that a diet rich in highly processed, energy-dense foods may lead to addictive-like eating behaviors.[1]
One study examined the impact of a weight loss treatment (including a portion-controlled 1000- to 1200-kcal diet, behavioral obesity treatments, and some physical activity) on both total food cravings and specific food cravings (e.g., sweets, high-fat foods) among individuals with obesity. The findings revealed that people with YFAS-defined food addiction had higher levels of food cravings at baseline, but YFAS-defined food addiction didn’t significantly impact weight loss after the intervention. Cravings and YFAS symptoms were diminished both in people with and without food addiction. It’s worth noting that this study had a limited sample size, with only 12 out of 178 participants meeting the YFAS food addiction criteria, though, and there was no control group.[2]