62% of study participants say they feel addicted to sweets, Polish-Spanish research finds

Sixty-two per cent of 344 adults surveyed in Poland said they felt addicted to sweets, according to joint research by teams in Poland and Spain that has reignited debate over whether sugar can be genuinely addictive.

The work was carried out by researchers at Rovira i Virgili University in Spain together with the Food Addiction Research Department at the "Fit Mind" Foundation in Poland. The teams developed a dedicated scale — a detailed survey tool — focused specifically on addiction to sugary foods.

The instrument is based on the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS 2.0) but was adapted to capture the particular characteristics of sweet addiction. Questions were modelled on guidelines from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), covering cravings, feelings of losing control around sugar, bouts of guilt and attempts to stop eating sweets altogether. Eleven experts in psychology, psychiatry and clinical nutrition were involved in the study.

What the data showed

The study gathered information from 344 adults in Poland on their eating habits, Body Mass Index (BMI) and mood. More than half said they had a hard time keeping cravings in check, while roughly one in three admitted to eating sugary foods several times every day.

The researchers found this form of addiction went hand in hand with strong cravings, repeated failed attempts to cut back, and lingering guilt and shame after indulging.

Emotional and health effects

Sweet addiction is not only about diet, the researchers said, but can also affect emotional and mental wellbeing. People dealing with it often report feeling anxious or low, and excessive sugar intake can worsen conditions such as fatty liver disease and further affect mood.

The study also included personal accounts, noting that many participants used sweets as comfort during difficult periods — a pattern that often produced a sugary lift followed by regret or guilt.

Advice from the experts

For those trying to cut back, the experts suggest keeping a food diary and noting what triggers cravings. They advise against extremes such as vowing never to eat sweets again, recommending instead a supportive environment where moderation is the goal. Professional help is also suggested where the dependence proves hard to shake.