Food Addiction and Consumption of Ultraprocessed Foods Among Undergraduate Nutrition and Dietetics Students

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine food addiction and consumption of ultraprocessed foods among undergraduate nutrition and dietetics students according to academic year. A total of 238 students participated in this cross-sectional study. The ultraprocessed food consumption frequency was assessed and the Yale Food Addiction Scale was applied. The overall prevalence of food addiction was 10.5%. The mean symptom count for food addiction was lower in the fourth year than in the first and second years (P = .002). The frequency of processed meat (r = -0.441, P < .001) and donut consumption (r = -0.309, P < .001) showed a moderate negative linear relationship with the increase in academic years.