*2.1. Participants*

As part of a larger clinical trial aiming to test the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation )TMS( on FA and obesity, we recruited 66 adults (ages 18–65), 48 of whom were overweight and obese and 18 were healthy controls (H-C) (body mass index (BMI) >= 28 and 19 ≤ BMI ≤ 25, respectively; see Table 1 for age and gender distribution). Participants were recruited by ads and assessed for several demographic parameters, including BMI and age, using a short screening questionnaire. Before recruitment, participants were also assessed for FA with the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) [45], of which details can be found in Section 2.3. Psycho-Behavioral Questionnaires below. To be recruited for the FAOB group, participants had to meet three or more YFAS symptoms and score positive on the YFAS clinical distress questions. All obese or overweight participants who did not get an FA diagnosis on the YFAS (i.e., they had either lower than three symptoms, or scored negative on the clinical distress questions) were recruited to the non-addicted overweight and obese group (NFAOB). The H-C comparison group had to have a healthy BMI and show no YFAS FA diagnosis. Therefore, the study included three groups of participants: overweight and obese with FA (FAOB, *n* = 31), overweight and obese without FA (NFAOB, *n* = 17), and healthy controls (H-C, *n* = 18).



ˆ NFAOB vs. H-C (*p* < 0.05); # FAOB vs. H-C (*p* < 0.05); \* FAOB vs. NFAOB (*p* < 0.05); **§** Controlling for BE. FAOB: overweight and obese with food addiction. NFAOB: overweight and obese without food addiction. H-C: healthy controls.

Potential participants were required to have no conventional weight loss attempt currently or in the past three months. As part of the screening, all participants filled out a short medical assessment questionnaire to ensure adherence to the inclusion/exclusion criteria of the TMS trial. Exclusion criteria included a cognitive or functional disability diagnosed within the past year; starting or changing a psychotropic prescription in the past three months; substance abuse, current or in the past 12 months; known or suspected pregnancy or lactation; and practicing veganism. Participants signed an informed consent approved by the Soroka Medical Center in Beer-Sheva, Israel.
