Early life influences on the development of food addiction in college attending young adults

Abstract

Purpose There is little investigation into the causes of food addiction. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of early life influences on the development of food addiction in college-attending young adults aged 18–29. Methods This study utilized a sequential explanatory mixed-methods research design. College-attending young adults were invited to complete an online survey measuring Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), food addiction, depression, anxiety, stress, and demographic information. Correlations between food addiction and the other variables were analyzed and significant variables were placed into a nominal logistic regression model to predict the development of food addiction. Participants who met the criteria for food addiction were invited to participate in interviews to examine their childhood eating environment and when their symptoms emerged. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed. Quantitative analysis was conducted using JMP Pro Version 16.0 and qualitative analysis was conducted using NVIVO Software Version 12.0. Results Survey respondents (n = 1645) had an overall 21.9% prevalence of food addiction. Significant correlations were observed between food addiction and ACEs, depression, anxiety, stress, and sex (p < .01 for all). Depression was the only significant predictor of the development of food addiction (OR = 3.33 95% CI 2.19, 5.05). The most common eating environment described by interview participants (n = 36) was an emphasis on diet culture, ideal body image, and restrictive environments. Symptoms frequently emerged after transitioning into college and having the ability to make their own food choices. Conclusion These results show the impact of early life eating environments and young adulthood mental health on the development of food addiction. These findings contribute to the understanding of underlying causes of food addiction. Level of evidence: Level V, Opinions of authorities, based on descriptive studies, narrative reviews, clinical experience, or reports of expert committees.

How parents’ feeding styles, attitudes, and multifactorial aspects are associated with feeding difficulties in children

“…Feeding problems are common in childhood, a period considered critical for physical growth, neural development, and to shaping eating behaviors and habits that will continue into adulthood [ 1 – 3 ]. It is estimated that between 20% and 60% parents are concerned with their children’s feeding, having transient or persistent complaints that can compromise the family relationship [ 4 ].…”

Retrospective Reports of Parental Feeding Practices and Current Eating Styles in Polish Adults

“…To date, research has confirmed the following associations: (1) the link between parents using food to control the child's behavior (e.g., food pressuring or food rewarding) and more frequent binge-eating or dietary restraint [8], long-lasting food rejection [13], lower level of intuitive eating and higher level of disordered eating in adulthood [9]; (2) the association between parents applying restrictions or emotional regulation feeding and food preoccupation as well as emotional eating in adulthood [10,12]; (3) the link between positive and negative memories about family's food rules and dieting in adulthood [14]; and (4) the association between having regular family meals as a child and having regular family meals as an adult [15,23]. Moreover, the availability of unhealthy foods at home during childhood was associated with less healthful eating [24] and early life eating environments with the development of the food addiction [25] in young adults.…”

Early life adversity impacts alterations in brain structure and food addiction in individuals with high BMI

“…candidates reported 2-3 times higher rates of childhood maltreatment and an increased risk for psychopathology independent of age, race, and sex 7 . Several explanations have been offered for this relationship including stressexacerbation, inflammation, even metabolic disturbances and altered eating patterns such as food addiction 8 .…”