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Abstract
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<h5 class="section-title" id="d14029277e127">Background</h5>
<p id="P1">There is growing interest and debate about whether an addictive process
contributes
to problematic eating outcomes, such as obesity. Craving is a core component of addiction,
but there has been little research on the relationship between addictive-like eating,
craving, and eating-related concerns. In the current study, we examine the effect
of both overall food craving and craving for different types of food on the relationship
between addictive-like eating symptoms and elevated body mass index (BMI) and binge
eating episodes.
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<h5 class="section-title" id="d14029277e132">Methods</h5>
<p id="P2">In a community sample (
<i>n</i> = 283), we conducted analyses to examine whether overall craving mediated
the association
between addictive-like eating and elevated BMI, as well as binge eating frequency.
We also ran separate mediational models examining the indirect effect of cravings
for sweets, fats, carbohydrates, and fast food fats on these same associations.
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<h5 class="section-title" id="d14029277e140">Results</h5>
<p id="P3">Overall food craving was a significant partial mediator in the relationships
between
addictive-like eating and both elevated BMI and binge eating episodes. Cravings for
sweets and other carbohydrates significantly mediated the relationship between addictive-like
eating and binge eating episodes, while cravings for fats significantly mediated the
relationship between addictive-like eating and elevated BMI.
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<h5 class="section-title" id="d14029277e145">Conclusions</h5>
<p id="P4">Craving appears to be an important component in the pathway between addictive-like
eating and problematic eating outcomes. The current results highlight the importance
of further evaluating the role of an addictive process in problematic eating behaviors
and potentially targeting food cravings in intervention approaches.
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