Do you suffer from food "addiction"?
The “Yale Food Addiction Scale” (YFAS) is a clinical tool designed to identify eating behaviors that mirror addiction, based on the criteria used for substance dependence.
The “Yale Food Addiction Scale,” featured in the book Your Optimal Health (Hardie Grant ed.), is a questionnaire designed to identify eating behaviors similar to an addiction, based on the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) criteria. Developed by Ashley Gearhardt and her team in 2009, this scale evaluates whether a person shows signs of food dependence, particularly toward foods high in sugar, fat, and salt.
Take the test here, or below.
Important Information Before You Start
Purpose: This survey asks about your eating habits over the past year.
Target Foods: When the questions mention “certain foods,” please think of any food similar to these:
Sweets: Ice cream, chocolate, donuts, cookies, cake, candy.
Starches: White bread, rolls, pasta, rice.
Salty Snacks: Chips, pretzels, crackers.
Fatty Foods: Steak, bacon, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, pizza, French fries.
Sugary Drinks: Soda/pop.
Disclaimer: This is an awareness tool. Unless professionally qualified, do not use this for medical diagnosis. If you feel you have a serious problem with disordered eating, please consult a healthcare professional.
How to Understand Your Results
The YFAS scores are based on 8 symptoms derived from the DSM criteria for dependence.
Step 1: Check for “Symptom Presence” A symptom is considered “present” if you meet the threshold for the related questions:
Loss of Control: (Qs 1, 2, or 3) Score of 4 or higher.
Unsuccessful attempts to quit: (Qs 4, 21, 22, or 23) Look for persistent desire or failed attempts.
Time spent / recovery: (Qs 5, 6, or 7) Score of 4 or higher.
Reduction of activities: (Qs 8, 9, 10, or 11) Score of 4 or higher.
Continued use despite problems: (Q 19) Answered “Yes”.
Tolerance: (Q 20) Answered “Yes”.
Withdrawal: (Qs 12, 13, or 14) Score of 4 or higher.
Significant Impairment/Distress: (Qs 15 or 16) Score of 4 or higher.
Step 2: Determine Addiction Level
0-1 Symptom: No food addiction.
2-3 Symptoms: Mild food addiction.
4-5 Symptoms: Moderate food addiction.
6+ Symptoms: Severe food addiction.
Conclusion
If your score indicates moderate or severe dependency, don’t panic. Understanding the biological impact of ultra-processed foods on our brain’s reward system is the first step toward reclaiming balance. Strategies like mindful eating, stress management, and a microbiome-friendly diet can help significantly.
References: Gearhardt, A.N., Corbin, W.R., & Brownell, K.D. (2009). Preliminary validation of the Yale Food Addiction Scale. Appetite.