Psychology RootsYale Food Addiction Scale
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About Yale Food Addiction Scale
Scale Name
Yale Food Addiction Scale
Author Details
Ashley N. Gearhardt, William R. Corbin, and Kelly D. Brownell
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), developed by Ashley N. Gearhardt, William R. Corbin, and Kelly D. Brownell in 2009, is a groundbreaking psychological tool designed to identify individuals exhibiting addictive-like eating behaviors. Published in Appetite, the YFAS draws from the diagnostic criteria for substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR at the time, now updated to DSM-5), adapting these principles to assess food addiction.
This scale emerged amid growing evidence that certain foods—particularly those high in sugar, fat, and salt—may trigger neurobiological responses similar to those seen in drug addiction, prompting researchers to explore compulsive eating through a clinical lens.
The YFAS consists of 25 items, scored using a combination of dichotomous (yes/no) and Likert-scale responses (0 = “never” to 4 = “4 or more times daily”), and is available in two scoring formats: a symptom count (0-7 based on DSM criteria) and a diagnostic threshold (3+ symptoms plus clinical significance). It measures seven addiction-like features, including tolerance, withdrawal, and loss of control, tailored to food consumption.
A revised version, YFAS 2.0 (2016), aligns with DSM-5 criteria, but the original remains widely used. Taking about 10-15 minutes to complete, the YFAS is a concise yet powerful tool for psychologists, nutritionists, and clinicians studying eating behaviors, obesity, and related mental health outcomes. Its global reach, evidenced by translations into numerous languages, underscores its relevance in addressing a pressing public health issue.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the copy: Access the YFAS from its original publication in Gearhardt et al. (2009) via Appetite or the official YFAS website, ensuring ethical use and proper citation.
- Explain the purpose: Inform participants that the scale assesses addictive-like eating patterns to better understand their relationship with food and support health goals.
- Provide instructions: Instruct participants to answer each of the 25 items based on their experiences with food over the past 12 months, using the provided response options, and encourage truthful self-reporting.
- Approximate time: Allow approximately 10-15 minutes for completion, depending on the participant’s reading speed and reflection time.
- Administer the scale: Present the YFAS in a private, comfortable setting—via paper or digital format—ensuring confidentiality to promote honest responses.
Reliability and Validity
The YFAS has demonstrated strong psychometric properties. The original 2009 version reported a high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.80), with good test-retest reliability. The YFAS 2.0 further improved validity by aligning with DSM-5 substance use disorder criteria.
The Yale Food Addiction Scale demonstrates robust psychometric properties, as established in its preliminary validation by Gearhardt et al. (2009). Internal consistency is strong, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.86 for the full scale and Kuder-Richardson-20 coefficients ranging from 0.75 to 0.82 for symptom items, indicating reliable measurement of food addiction constructs. Test-retest reliability, though not extensively reported in the original study, has been supported in subsequent research with correlations around 0.80 over a two-week period, suggesting stability in stable populations.
Validity is well-documented through confirmatory factor analysis, supporting a single-factor structure aligned with substance dependence criteria. Convergent validity is evidenced by significant correlations (r = 0.50-0.65) with measures of binge eating (e.g., Binge Eating Scale) and emotional eating, while discriminant validity distinguishes YFAS scores from general impulsivity or unrelated traits. Predictive validity is notable, with higher YFAS scores linked to increased body mass index (BMI), cravings, and neural reward system activation, as confirmed in neuroimaging studies. The YFAS 2.0 further enhances its validity by incorporating DSM-5 updates, but the original remains a foundational tool in food addiction research.
Available Versions
25-Items
Reference
Gearhardt, A. N., Corbin, W. R., & Brownell, K. D. (2009). Preliminary validation of the Yale food addiction scale. Appetite, 52(2), 430-436.
Gearhardt, A. N., Corbin, W. R., & Brownell, K. D. (2016). Development of the Yale food addiction scale version 2.0. Psychology of addictive behaviors, 30(1), 113.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Yale Food Addiction Scale measure?
It measures addictive-like eating behaviors based on substance dependence criteria.
How many items are in the YFAS?
It includes 25 items with two scoring options.
Who developed the YFAS?
It was developed by Ashley Gearhardt, William Corbin, and Kelly Brownell in 2009.
How long does it take to complete the YFAS?
It takes about 10-15 minutes.
Is there an updated version of the YFAS?
Yes, the YFAS 2.0 aligns with DSM-5 criteria, released in 2016.
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