On the prevalence of ‘food addiction’ in persons with bulimia nervosa

Abstract

A meta-analysis by Praxedes and colleagues published in this journal reports that the prevalence of ‘food addiction’ as measured with the Yale Food Addiction Scale is lower than 50% in persons with bulimia nervosa and higher in persons with binge eating disorder. However, closely examining the supplementary material of that article reveals that these numbers cannot possibly be correct. Instead, most studies indicate that the prevalence of ‘food addiction’ is higher than 80% in persons with bulimia nervosa and, thus, higher than in persons with other eating disorders.