Adaptation and validation of the Hungarian version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children

J Behav Addict. 2018 Mar 1;7(1):181-188. doi: 10.1556/2006.7.2018.03. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

Abstract

Background Childhood obesity proves to be an important public health issue, since it serves as a potential risk factor for multiple diseases. Food addiction could also serve as an important etiological factor. As childhood obesity plays a serious issue also in Hungary, we aimed to adapt and validate the Hungarian version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children (H-YFAS-C). Methods A total of 191 children were assessed with the H-YFAS-C and the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI). The following psychometric properties were analyzed: internal consistency, construct validity, convergent, and discriminant validity. Results A good construct validity was revealed by confirmatory factor analysis (RMSEA = 0.0528, CFI = 0.896, χ2 value = 279.06). Question 25 proved to have no significant effect on its group and was removed from further analyses. The Kuder-Richardson 20 coefficient indicated good internal consistency (K20 = 0.82). With the use of the eight EDI subscales, a good convergent and discriminant validity could be determined. Food addiction was diagnosed in 8.9% of children. The mean symptom count was 1.7 ± 1.2 (range: 0-7). Females were more often diagnosed with food addiction than males (p = .016; OR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.2-10.6). BMI percentiles were significantly higher in children with diagnosed food addiction (p = .003). There proved to be no correlation between age and the occurrence of food addiction. Discussion and conclusion Our results show that H-YFAS-C is a good and reliable tool for addictive-like behavior assessment.

Keywords: Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children; food addiction; food addiction assessment; obesity; public health.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Food Addiction / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obesity / diagnosis
  • Obesity / psychology
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales*
  • Psychometrics
  • Self Report
  • Sex Factors
  • Translating

Grants and funding

Funding sources: TT was supported by the National Brain Research Program Grant no. NAP KTIA NAP-A-II/12. JJ was supported by the National Brain Research Program Grant no. KTIA NAP-13-a-II/9. DT was supported by the ÚNKP-16-3 New National Excellence Program of The Ministry of Human Capacities.