The night eating syndrome in the general population and among postoperative obesity surgery patients

• Published in: The International journal of eating disorders Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 65 - 69
• Main Authors: Rand, C.S.W, Macgregor, A.M.C, Stunkard, A.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.07.1997; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: ad libitum feeding; Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; ADULTE; ADULTOS; ADULTS; ALIMENTACION AD LIBITUM; ALIMENTATION A SATIETE; ANOREXIA; Anorexia - diagnosis; Anorexia - psychology; APPETITE DISORDERS; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; BODY WEIGHT; Circadian Rhythm; COMPORTEMENT ALIMENTAIRE; diagnosis; Eating behavior disorders; EATING DISORDERS; evening eating; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Feeding and Eating Disorders - diagnosis; Feeding and Eating Disorders - psychology; Feeding Behavior; FEEDING HABITS; Female; Follow-Up Studies; FOOD INTAKE; Gastroplasty; Gastroplasty - psychology; HABITOS ALIMENTARIOS; Humans; INGESTION DE ALIMENTOS; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; morning anorexia; night-eating syndrome; Obesity; OCCURRENCE; OPERACIONES QUIRURGICAS; OPERATION CHIRURGICALE; OVERWEIGHT; patients; Personality Inventory; PESO CORPORAL; POIDS CORPOREL; Postoperative Complications; Postoperative Complications - diagnosis; Postoperative Complications - psychology; PRISE ALIMENTAIRE (HOMME); psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - diagnosis; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - psychology; SOBREPESO; Surgery; SURGICAL OPERATIONS; SURPOIDS; Syndrome; TRASTORNOS ALIMENTICIOS; TROUBLE ALIMENTAIRE; UNRESTRICTED FEEDING; United States; North America; America; Human; Obesity; Prevalence; Night; Nutrition disorder; Eating disorder; Epidemiology; Nutritional status; Public health; Feeding
• ISSN: 0276-3478; 1098-108X
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1098-108X(199707)22:1<65::AID-EAT8>3.0.CO;2-0

Objective: To determine the prevalence of night-eating syndrome in the general population and among a new sample of obesity surgery patients. Method: Night-eating syndrome was defined by presence of morning anorexia, excessive evening eating, evening tension and/or feeling upset, and insomnia. A randomly selected sample of 2,097 adults (survey sample) answered structured interview questions on night-eating syndrome. A self-report form was completed by 111 patients who had received gastric restriction surgery for obesity at a patient reunion (patient sample). Results: Prevalence of night-eating syndrome in the survey sample was 1.5% (31 of 2,097). Prevalence in the patient sample was 27% (30 of 111). Weights for subjects in each sample, with and without the syndrome, were comparable. Discussion: Prevalence of night-eating syndrome was higher in the patient sample than in the survey sample. Within each sample, presence of the syndrome was not related to weight. Prevalence in the survey sample was within the range reported for binge-eating disorder. Night-eating syndrome may warrant consideration as a distinct eating disorder