Addiction to Food Viewed Less Negatively Than Addiction to Alcohol or Tobacco

People view addiction to food in a less negative light than addiction to alcohol or tobacco, according to a study by researchers at Yale University.

The researchers asked more than 1,200 adults about their feelings toward people with various types of addictions. People with an addiction to food were seen as more likeable, easier to relate to, and were viewed with less anger and disgust, compared with people with an alcohol or tobacco addiction.

HealthDay reports people with a food addiction were less likely to be blamed for their problem than people with a tobacco or alcohol addiction. Participants said they were more irritated, angry and disgusted about food addiction if the person was obese, the study found.

The findings appear in the journal Basic and Applied Social Psychology.