Night Eating Syndrome Tied to Obesity
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 08/11/2008 - 23:52.
People suffering from night eating syndrome are at higher risk than
normal for obesity and substance abuse, according to recent research.
The study also found that night eating syndrome is a common condition
among psychiatric patients.
Characterized by excessive eating in the evening (hyperphagia) and nocturnal awakening with ingestion of food, night eating syndrome affects approximately 1.5 percent of the U.S. population. The condition was first observed among obese patients, but it also affects people who are not obese.
In a study partly supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 399 psychiatric outpatients were screened for the eating disorder via a night eating questionnaire. Investigators inquired about hunger and craving patterns, percentage of calories consumed after the evening meal, insomnia and awakenings, nocturnal food cravings and ingestions, and mood. Participants who scored above cutoff on the questionnaire were interviewed by phone and received a night eating syndrome diagnosis if they reported having evening hyperphagia or nocturnal awakenings with ingestions of food three or more times a week.
Results placed the prevalence of night eating syndrome at 12.3 percent. Further, investigators noted that obese psychiatric patients were five times more likely to suffer from night eating syndrome than normal-weight patients, with obesity present in 57.1 percent of diagnosed night eaters. Although this study found an association between obesity and night eating syndrome, investigators did not conclude that night eating syndrome might lead to obesity, or vice-versa. Approximately 79 percent of the obese patients enrolled in this study were not night eaters.
Substance abuse was another behavior associated with night eating syndrome, and alcohol was noted as the most commonly abused substance. The investigators observed that mental health professionals will probably encounter patients suffering from night eating syndrome in their practice, and should be aware of available treatment options.
Article Information
Lundgren J, Allison K, Crow S, et al. Prevalence of the Night Eating Syndrome in a Psychiatric Population. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2006;163(1):156-158.
Characterized by excessive eating in the evening (hyperphagia) and nocturnal awakening with ingestion of food, night eating syndrome affects approximately 1.5 percent of the U.S. population. The condition was first observed among obese patients, but it also affects people who are not obese.
In a study partly supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 399 psychiatric outpatients were screened for the eating disorder via a night eating questionnaire. Investigators inquired about hunger and craving patterns, percentage of calories consumed after the evening meal, insomnia and awakenings, nocturnal food cravings and ingestions, and mood. Participants who scored above cutoff on the questionnaire were interviewed by phone and received a night eating syndrome diagnosis if they reported having evening hyperphagia or nocturnal awakenings with ingestions of food three or more times a week.
Results placed the prevalence of night eating syndrome at 12.3 percent. Further, investigators noted that obese psychiatric patients were five times more likely to suffer from night eating syndrome than normal-weight patients, with obesity present in 57.1 percent of diagnosed night eaters. Although this study found an association between obesity and night eating syndrome, investigators did not conclude that night eating syndrome might lead to obesity, or vice-versa. Approximately 79 percent of the obese patients enrolled in this study were not night eaters.
Substance abuse was another behavior associated with night eating syndrome, and alcohol was noted as the most commonly abused substance. The investigators observed that mental health professionals will probably encounter patients suffering from night eating syndrome in their practice, and should be aware of available treatment options.
Article Information
Lundgren J, Allison K, Crow S, et al. Prevalence of the Night Eating Syndrome in a Psychiatric Population. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2006;163(1):156-158.
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