Psychometric validation of the full Yale food addiction scale for children 2.0 among adolescents from the general population and adolescents with a history of mental disorder

Abstract

Objective: Food addiction is a phenotype characterised by an addiction-like attraction to highly processed foods. Adolescence is a sensitive period for developing addictive disorders. Therefore, a valid measure to assess food addiction in adolescents is needed. Accordingly, the aim of the study was to establish a categorical scoring option for the full version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children 2.0 (YFAS-C 2.0), and to psychometrically validate the full YFAS-C 2.0.

Method: The data stem from the Food Addiction Denmark (FADK) Project. Random samples of 3750 adolescents from the general population aged 13-17 years, and 3529 adolescents with a history mental disorder of the same age were invited to participate in a survey including the full version of the YFAS-C 2.0. A confirmatory factor analysis was carried out and the weighted prevalence of food addiction was estimated.

Results: The confirmatory factor analysis of the YFAS-C 2.0 supported a one-factor model in both samples. The weighted prevalence of food addiction was 5.0% in the general population, and 11.2% in the population with a history of mental disorder.

Conclusions: The full version of the YFAS-C 2.0 is a psychometrically valid measure for assessing clinically significant food addiction in adolescents.

Keywords: Yale food addiction scale for children 2.0; adolescents; food addiction; general population; mental disorder; obesity; psychometrics; surveys and questionnaires.