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Ten Years of the Yale Food Addiction Scale: a Review of Version 2.0

  • Food Addiction (A Meule, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) is a self-report questionnaire for the assessment of addiction-like consumption of high-calorie, processed foods. The original scale was developed in 2009 and—for its tenth anniversary—we now review studies using its revised version—the YFAS 2.0.

Recent Findings

The 11 symptoms of food addiction as measured with the YFAS 2.0 demonstrated high internal reliability and a unidimensional structure in several studies, supporting construct validity. Similar to the original YFAS, highest prevalence rates of YFAS 2.0 diagnoses were found in individuals with bulimia nervosa, followed by binge eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, subthreshold eating disorders, obesity, and unselected samples. Scores on the YFAS 2.0 were associated with other disordered eating behaviors and several co-morbid mental disorders.

Summary

The YFAS 2.0 is an internal reliable measure that shows factorial validity, yet more studies are needed that demonstrate retest-reliability and predictive validity. Prevalence rates and correlates of YFAS 2.0 diagnoses are largely similar to those observed with the original YFAS.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of the LMU Munich, Munich, Germany

    Adrian Meule

  2. Schoen Clinic Roseneck, Prien am Chiemsee, Germany

    Adrian Meule

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Ashley N. Gearhardt

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  1. Adrian Meule
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Correspondence to Adrian Meule.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Food Addiction

Appendices

Appendix 1. SPSS syntax for the YFAS 2.0

*Dichotomize all 35 items

Recode YFAS01 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 0) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS02 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 0) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS03 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS04 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 0) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS05 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS06 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 0) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS07 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 0) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS08 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS09 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 1) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS10 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 1) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS11 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS12 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS13 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS14 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS15 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 0) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS16 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS17 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS18 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS19 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 1) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS20 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS21 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS22 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS23 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS24 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS25 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 0) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS26 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS27 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 1) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS28 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS29 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS30 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS31 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS32 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS33 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 1) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS34 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode YFAS35 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 1) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Execute.

*Compute sum scores for each symptom and dichotomize.

Compute YFASamount = YFAS01 + YFAS02 + YFAS03.

If (YFASamount> = 1) YFASamount = 1.

Execute.

Compute YFASattempts = YFAS04 + YFAS25 + YFAS31 + YFAS32.

If (YFASattempts> = 1) YFASattempts = 1.

Execute.

Compute YFAStime = YFAS05 + YFAS06 + YFAS07.

If (YFAStime> = 1) YFAStime = 1.

Execute.

Compute YFASactivities = YFAS08 + YFAS10 + YFAS18 + YFAS20.

If (YFASactivities> = 1) YFASactivities = 1.

Execute.

Compute YFASconsequences = YFAS22 + YFAS23.

If (YFASconsequences> = 1) YFASconsequences = 1.

Execute.

Compute YFAStolerance = YFAS24 + YFAS26.

If (YFAStolerance> = 1) YFAStolerance = 1.

Execute.

Compute YFASwithdrawal = YFAS11 + YFAS12 + YFAS13 + YFAS14 + YFAS15.

If (YFASwithdrawal> = 1) YFASwithdrawal = 1.

Execute.

Compute YFASproblems = YFAS09 + YFAS21 + YFAS35.

If (YFASproblems> = 1) YFASproblems = 1.

Execute.

Compute YFASobligations = YFAS19 + YFAS27.

If (YFASobligations> = 1) YFASobligations = 1.

Execute.

Compute YFASsituations = YFAS28 + YFAS33 + YFAS34.

If (YFASsituations> = 1) YFASsituations = 1.

Execute.

Compute YFAScraving = YFAS29 + YFAS30.

If (YFAScraving> = 1) YFAScraving = 1.

Execute.

Compute YFASimpairment = YFAS16 + YFAS17.

If (YFASimpairment> = 1) YFASimpairment = 1.

Execute.

*Compute symptom count

Compute YFASsymptoms = YFASamount + YFASattempts + YFAStime + YFASactivities +

YFASconsequences + YFAStolerance + YFASwithdrawal + YFASproblems + YFASobligations +

YFASsituations + YFAScraving.

Execute.

*Compute diagnostic score separated by severity level

Compute YFASdiagnosis = 0.

If (YFASsymptoms> = 2 & YFASimpairment> = 1) YFASdiagnosis = 1.

If (YFASsymptoms> = 4 & YFASimpairment> = 1) YFASdiagnosis = 2.

If (YFASsymptoms> = 6 & YFASimpairment> = 1) YFASdiagnosis = 3.

Execute.

Value labels YFASdiagnosis 0 “no food addiction” 1 “mild food addiction” 2 “moderate food addiction” 3 “severe food addiction.”

Execute.

*Compute diagnostic score without differentiating between severity levels

Compute YFASdiagnosis_dichotomous = 0.

If (YFASsymptoms> = 2 & YFASimpairment> = 1) YFASdiagnosis = 1.

Execute.

Value labels YFASdiagnosis_dichotomous 0 “no food addiction” 1 “food addiction.”

Execute.

*Make your variables look nicer

Alter type

YFAS01 YFAS02 YFAS03 YFAS04 YFAS05 YFAS06 YFAS07 YFAS08 YFAS09 YFAS10 YFAS11 YFAS12 YFAS13 YFAS14 YFAS15 YFAS16 YFAS17 YFAS18 YFAS19 YFAS20 YFAS21 YFAS22 YFAS23 YFAS24 YFAS25 YFAS26 YFAS27 YFAS28 YFAS29 YFAS30 YFAS31 YFAS32 YFAS33 YFAS34 YFAS35 YFASamount YFASattempts YFAStime YFASactivities YFASconsequences YFAStolerance YFASwithdrawal YFASproblems YFASobligations YFASsituations YFAScraving YFASimpairment YFASsymptoms YFASdiagnosis YFASdiagnosis_dichotomous (F8.0).

Execute.

Appendix 2. SPSS syntax for the mYFAS 2.0

*Dichotomize all 13 items

Recode mYFAS01 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode mYFAS02 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode mYFAS03 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 1) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode mYFAS04 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode mYFAS05 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode mYFAS06 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode mYFAS07 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 1) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode mYFAS08 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode mYFAS09 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode mYFAS10 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode mYFAS11 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 0) (3 = 0) (4 = 0) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode mYFAS12 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 1) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Recode mYFAS13 (0 = 0) (1 = 0) (2 = 1) (3 = 1) (4 = 1) (5 = 1) (6 = 1) (7 = 1).

Execute.

*Compute sum scores for all symptoms and the distress/impairment criterion

Compute mYFASimpairment = mYFAS05 + mYFAS06.

Execute.

Compute mYFASsymptoms = mYFAS01 + mYFAS02 + mYFAS03 + mYFAS04 + mYFAS07 + mYFAS08 + mYFAS09 + mYFAS10 + mYFAS11 + mYFAS12 + mYFAS13.

Execute.

*Compute diagnostic score separated by severity level

Compute mYFASdiagnosis = 0.

If (mYFASsymptoms> = 2 & mYFASimpairment> = 1) mYFASdiagnosis = 1.

If (mYFASsymptoms> = 4 & mYFASimpairment> = 1) mYFASdiagnosis = 2.

If (mYFASsymptoms> = 6 & mYFASimpairment> = 1) mYFASdiagnosis = 3.

Execute.

Value labels mYFASdiagnosis 0 “no food addiction” 1 “mild food addiction” 2 “moderate food addiction” 3 “severe food addiction.”

Execute.

*Compute diagnostic score without differentiating between severity levels.

Compute mYFASdiagnosis_dichotomous = 0.

If (mYFASsymptoms> = 2 & mYFASimpairment> = 1) mYFASdiagnosis = 1.

Execute.

Value labels mYFASdiagnosis_dichotomous 0 “no food addiction” 1 “food addiction.”

Execute.

*Make your variables look nicer

Alter type

mYFAS01 mYFAS02 mYFAS03 mYFAS04 mYFAS05 mYFAS06 mYFAS07 mYFAS08 mYFAS09 mYFAS10 mYFAS11 mYFAS12 mYFAS13 mYFASimpairment mYFASsymptoms mYFASdiagnosis mYFASdiagnosis_dichotomous (F8.0).

Execute.

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Meule, A., Gearhardt, A.N. Ten Years of the Yale Food Addiction Scale: a Review of Version 2.0. Curr Addict Rep 6, 218–228 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-019-00261-3

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