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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
Published on: May 8, 2018
[Night eating in severely obese patients]
S Testa1, V Lagattolla, A Campostanto
1Università degli Studi--Genova, Centro per lo Studio e la Cura dell'Obesità.
Background:
To investigate the frequency of night eating among obese patients, its biological correlates and its relationships with binge eating.
Methods:
The eating behavior of a group of patients enrolled in a weight-loss program was evaluated by Eating Inventory (EI) and by semistructured interviews designed to detect binge and night eating; in all cases body weight (BW) and energy expenditure (REE) were measured.
Results:
Night eating was more frequent among binge eating patients, than in among non-binge ones. However, two-way ANOVA demonstrated that in binge eating patients the EI disinhibition and hunger score was higher than in their no-bingeing counterparts and in night eating individuals. Furthermore, between night eating and non-night eating patients, no differences in BW and REE were found.
Conclusions:
Binge eating and night eating appear to be related to different psychological constructs, the overlapping between the two behaviors, however, being quite frequent.
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