Yasemin COŞKUNÖZ, Sevinç YÜCECAN
Kocaeli Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi - 2026;12(2):135-140
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the gender-specific associations between food addiction (FA), eating attitudes, emotional eating, insulin resistance, and nutritional status in individuals with obesity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 240 individuals with obesity (149 women, 91 men). Participants were assessed using the Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale Version 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0), Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ), Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), and Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait-reduced (FCQT-R). Anthropometric measurements were obtained and biochemical markers including fasting blood glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), vitamin D, and cortisol levels were analyzed. Results: Food addiction was identified in 54.2% (n=130) of the participants, with a significantly higher prevalence in women than in men (65.8% vs. 35.2%, p<0.001). Individuals with FA demonstrated significantly higher levels of food craving and loss of control over eating (p<0.001). Among women with FA, HOMA-IR values were significantly higher (p=0.004), while vitamin D levels were significantly lower (p=0.035) compared with women without FA. In men with FA, visceral fat percentage was significantly higher than in non-addicted men (p<0.001). Conclusion: Food addiction is highly prevalent among individuals with obesity, particularly among women, and is associated with gender-specific psychological and metabolic alterations. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating gender-sensitive approaches into the assessment and management of obesity-related eating behaviors and metabolic risk.
