ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HABITUAL MSG CONSUMPTION AND COMPULSIVE EATING BEHAVIORS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Date
2026-05-12
Authors
Lina K. Al Jabry
Abdallah Shawwa
Rola Issa
Omar Abweh
Yomna Sarhan
Haneen Qashqeesh
Hazem Alagha
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Deanship of Scientific Research - Al-Quds University
Abstract
Background: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a widely used flavor enhancer in processed foods that increases palatability and may influence eating behaviors. Although considered safe from a toxicological standpoint, its potential association with compulsive eating patterns remains unclear. University students are particularly vulnerable to irregular dietary habits and increased consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether higher MSG intake is associated with increased food addiction and binge-eating severity among university students. It also examined the relationship between MSG consumption and food addiction symptom counts, assessed the presence of a dose–response effect, and evaluated these associations after adjusting for key confounders such as age, gender, body mass index, perceived stress, and academic year.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 555 Palestinian university students aged 18–30 years. MSG intake was assessed using a composite dietary exposure scale and categorized into tertiles (low, moderate, high). Food addiction was measured using the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), binge-eating severity using the Binge Eating Scale (BES), and perceived stress using the Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4). Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between MSG intake and food addiction diagnosis, while linear regression models evaluated associations with binge-eating severity and YFAS symptom counts. All models were adjusted for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), perceived stress, and academic year.