What are the 11 diagnostic criteria in the Yale Food Addiction Scale?

The 11 diagnostic criteria in the YFAS have been adapted from the criteria for substance use disorder in the DSM-5, and include:^[1][2]

1. Eating more food than planned even if not feeling hungry any more
2. Unsuccessful attempts to control eating
3. Spending a lot of time either trying to obtain specific foods, or a lot of time eating, or a lot of time recovering from overeating to the point of feeling sluggish and tired
4. Cravings for specific foods
5. Impaired daily functioning (e.g., at work, home, or school) because of the food addiction
6. Eating despite negative interpersonal or social consequences
7. Giving up activities because of food
8. Continuing eating even when it puts you in danger. For instance, overeating sweets despite having diabetes, or being distracted by eating while driving a car.
9. Eating despite negative physical or psychological consequences caused or exacerbated by that eating. For instance, eating despite its causing emotional problems or despite its causing physical issues (e.g., stomach cramps, diarrhea, headache)
10. Tolerance, which is the increasing need for more food to feel satisfied
11. Withdrawal symptoms (physical or psychological) when reducing food intake (e.g., disproportionate irritability or anxiety)

To be “diagnosed” with food addiction, people must both experience significant distress and meet two or more of the above criteria. It’s worth noting that food addiction is not a formally recognized mental health disorder, meaning both that the YFAS can’t be considered an official diagnostic tool and that there is some variability in the criteria utilized across different studies.