Night eating and nocturnal eating - two different or similar syndromes among obese patients?

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to identify subjects with (1) nig ht eating syndrome (defined as morning anorexia, evening hyperphagia and in somnia) and (2) nocturnal eating syndrome (defined as eating at night after having gone to bed). In the literature the differences and similarities be tween these two syndromes are not clear. SUBJECTS: One-hundred and ninety-four obese patients from an academic, clin ical obesity unit. Mean BMI (+/-s.d.) was 40 +/- 5 kg/m(2), age 44 +/- 12 y and 76% were women. MEASUREMENTS: Questionnaires with multiple choices and open questions along with the Binge Eating Scale. RESULTS: Fourteen percent of the patients met the criteria for night eating and/or nocturnal eating syndrome. Night eating syndrome was manifest in 6% of the patients and nocturnal eating syndrome in 10%. Both the night eater s and the nocturnal eaters had more trouble getting to sleep than the patie nts without night/nocturnal eating problems (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01). The n octurnal eaters also had more trouble staying asleep (P < 0.001). Morning a norexia was not typically found in nocturnal eaters. Being on long-term sic k leave was more common among the nocturnal eaters (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Fourteen percent of the patients at our obesity unit met the cr iteria for night eating and/or nocturnal eating syndrome. There are clear s imilarities between night eating syndrome and nocturnal eating syndrome, bu t also differences.