Objective: To determine, through a systematic review with meta-analysis, the prevalence of food addiction (FA) using the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and its derivatives exploring possible factors associated with the prevalence of FA in several contexts. Methods:The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, LILACS, PsycArticles, CENTRAL, Greylit.org, and OpenGrey.eu. Studies that assessed FA using YFAS were included. Two independent reviewers assessed the eligibility of each report. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to calculate the weighted prevalence of FA. Subgroup analyses and metaregression were conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity. Results: Of the 6425 abstracts reviewed, 272 studies were included. The weighted mean prevalence of FA diagnosis was 20% (95% CI: 18%; 21%). The prevalence of FA was higher in individuals with clinical diagnosis of binge eating (55%; 95% CI 34%; 75%). The prevalence in clinical samples was higher compared to non-clinical samples. Two studies included children only and no studies included only elderly people.Conclusions: Food addiction is a topic in which there has been a significant growth in studies. The highest prevalence was found in the group of

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Reducing sedentary behaviour (SB) and increasing physical activity (PA) by sitting less and standing/walking more is advised to prevent chronic diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying this recommendation are not well-established, especially in individuals with obesity living in low-income regions. The present study evaluated whether there are associations between PA indicators (PAI – standing time, walking time, and the number of steps/day) and SB indicators (SBI - sitting/lying down time) with the hormonal profile and resting energy expenditure (REE) of adult women living in a low-income region. This is a cross-sectional study. We collected data on hormones (insulin resistance, leptin, and thyroid axis), body composition (tetrapolar bioimpedance), REE (indirect calorimetry), and PAI and SBI (triaxial accelerometers, ActivPAL). Multivariable linear models adjusting for age and fat-free mass were performed. Fifty-eight women (mean age of 31 years and body mass index of 33 kg/m2) were included. The mean sitting/lying down time and standing time were 16.08 and 5.52 h/day, respectively. Sitting/lying down time showed a direct association with free thyroxine (FT4) (β = 0.56 ng/dL; 95%CI = −1.10; −0.02). Standing time showed a direct association with FT4 (β = 0.75 ng/dL; 95% CI = 0.01; 1.48) and inverse association with free triiodothyronine (β = −2.83 pg/mL 95%CI = −5.56; −0.10). There were no associations between PAI and SBI with the REE, insulin resistance, leptin and thyroid-stimulating hormone. Thus, decreased SB is associated with thyroid hormones levels but not with REE, insulin resistance or leptin in women with obesity living in low-income regions.

The study’s objective was to determine the prevalence of food addiction (FA) in Brazilian university students and to verify whether there is an association with anxiety, depression, and adherence to the social distancing measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a nationwide cross-sectional study carried out through the application of online questionnaires. Self-reported data on age, sex, economic class, race/skin color, anthropometric data, depression diagnosis, anxiety, modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0), and adherence to social distancing measures were collected. 5368 participants were included, with a mean age was 24.1 ± 6.3 years, the majority were female ( n = 3990; 74.3%), and the mean BMI in our sample was 24.5 ± 5.3 kg/m 2 . The prevalence of FA was 19.1% (95%CI: 18.0; 20.0%). An association was observed between FA with depression (PR: 1.60; 95%CI: 1.43; 1.78; p < 0.01), and anxiety (3.13; 95%CI: 2.74; 3.58; p < 0.01), but not with adherence to social distancing measures ( p = 0.70). In conclusion, there was a higher prevalence of FA in Brazilian university students. Besides, university students with anxiety, depression, overweight, or obesity and females are more prone to FA. Level of evidence Level V, Opinions of authorities, based on descriptive studies, narrative reviews, clinical experience, or reports of expert committees.

There is evidence that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in anxiety and depression rates among college students. However, little is known about how generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) developed among individuals of different race/ skin color. This study aimed to determine whether there are racial differences in GAD in Brazilian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a nationwide cross-sectional study, carried out through the application of online questionnaires to university students from 94 Brazilian universities. Self-reported data on age, sex, economic class, race/skin color, anthropometric data, and adherence to social distancing measures were collected. To determine the GAD, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7item scale was applied. A total of 5879 participants were included, with a mean age of 24.1 ± 6.4 years, and the majority were female (n = 4324, 73.5%), most self-declared to be whites (n = 2945, 50.1%), followed by browns (n = 2185, 37.2%) and blacks (n = 749, 12.7%). The prevalence of GAD among black Brazilian university students (47.3% [95% CI 43.7, 50.8]) was significantly higher than that of browns (38.6% [95% CI 36.6, 40.7]) and whites (44.1% [95% CI 42.3, 45.9]), even after multivariable adjustment by other sociodemographic factors. The findings of the present study suggest a possible racial difference in GAD among Brazilian university students, in which those who declared their race/skin color as black showed a greater risk for GAD than those who declared themselves as white or brown.

Objective Food addiction (FA) has been extensively investigated worldwide; however, the prevalence of FA in the Latin American population has yet to be established and past work has largely neglected the specificities of this region, that includes the most significant economic disparities in the world. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of FA measured by the Yale Food Addiction Scale in Latin America. Method The search was performed on MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, LILACS, IBECS, SciELO, PsycArticles, CENTRAL, and the gray literature. FA prevalence data were collected, and random effects meta‐analyses were performed to calculate the overall weighted prevalence, the prevalence by country, and by clinical and non‐clinical samples. Results A total of 10,082 occurrences were identified through database searches, and 23 studies were included (Mexico = 9; Brazil = 7; Chile = 4; Argentina = 1; Peru = 1; Uruguay = 1). The prevalence of FA found in clinical samples was 38% (95% CI: 16%–63%; I2 = 98.67%; 8 studies), while in non‐clinical samples, it was 15% (95% CI: 10%–21%; I2 = 98.51%; 15 studies). Discussion The average prevalence of FA in the Latin American countries included here was in accordance with that reported in other regions worldwide. It is noteworthy that the studies were conducted only in six countries, which are among those with the highest income in the region and do not represent the situation in native populations or those with lower purchasing power. This gap in the data also reflects the effects of economic disparities on the availability of empirical data in the region. Public Significance The prevalence of food addiction in Latin America was similar to that reported in other regions. It was higher among individuals with overweight, whether or not undergoing bariatric surgery, than in non‐clinical samples. These findings contribute to aggregate information about this condition that has drawn the attention of clinicians and researchers.

It is unclear if individuals who have previously been counselled by nutrition professionals are more prone to subsequently under‐report their energy intake. This study aimed to determine whether there is an association between energy intake under‐reporting and previous professional nutritional counselling for weight control in low‐income women with obesity. This is a cross‐sectional study. Adult women (19–44 years old in Brazil) with obesity, living in a household classified as the lowest economic strata, were included. Energy intake (EI) was identified using 24‐h food records (for three non‐consecutive days, including a weekend day. Total energy expenditure (TEE) was assessed using indirect calorimetry and triaxial accelerometers. Individuals with EI:TEE ratio below 0.65 were considered as under‐reporters. Participants were also asked if they had been previously counselled by a nutrition professional for their obesity treatment. Association was calculated using a multivariable model, adjusted for age, bodyweight, height, education and body fat. The sample consisted of 58 women, with a mean age of 33 years and a body mass index of 32.51 kg/m2. Among total participants, 20 (34.5%) women had undergone previous professional nutritional counselling, and 21 (36.2%) under‐reported their EI. Women who had already had some counselling with a nutrition professional had a higher adjusted prevalence of under‐reporting their EI [adjusted prevalence ratio: 2.58; 95% CI (1.27; 5.25), p = 0.008]. Low‐income women with obesity who had undergone previous professional nutritional counselling for weight loss showed a higher prevalence of under‐reporting their EI.

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