Night eating syndrome: evaluation of two screening instruments

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Medicine
• Obesity Research
• Sleep Science

Background:

• Night eating syndrome (NES) is characterized by evening hyperphagia, often associated with mood and sleep disturbances.
• Overweight and obese individuals who self-identify as night snackers are a relevant population for studying NES.
• The diagnostic criteria and screening tools for NES require further validation, particularly in the context of weight management interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between night eating syndrome (NES) and treatment outcomes in a brief weight loss intervention.
• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a screening question and the Night Eating Syndrome Questionnaire (NESQ) for identifying NES.
• To clarify the distinction between NES and general night snacking behavior.

Main Methods:

• A 4-week randomized clinical trial involving overweight and obese individuals who self-identified as night snackers.
• Administration of a structured clinical interview, a night eating screening question, and the Night Eating Syndrome Questionnaire (NESQ).
• Assessment of treatment outcomes, including adherence to the intervention and weight loss.

Main Results:

• Night eating syndrome diagnoses were not significantly associated with adherence or weight loss outcomes.
• The screening question demonstrated adequate sensitivity but poor specificity for detecting NES.
• The NESQ showed a positive correlation with more stringent definitions of NES, indicating its utility in assessing severity.

Conclusions:

• Night eating syndrome is not directly correlated with poorer outcomes in a brief weight loss program for night snackers.
• Current screening tools have limitations; the NESQ shows promise but requires further validation.
• A revised definition of NES is proposed, incorporating a sleep disturbance component alongside night eating.