Night-eating symptoms and 2-year weight change in parents enrolled in the QUALITY cohort

The timing of food intake may be implicated in weight gain. This study tested the hypothesis that symptoms commonly associated with night-eating syndrome are related to measures of weight gain in adults.

Parents participating in QUALITY (Québec Adipose and Lifestyle InvesTigation in Youth) completed the night eating questionnaire (NEQ) at baseline (2005-2008) and at follow-up (2008-2010). Height and weight were measured and self-report questionnaire data were available for 388 parents (59% female, mean (s.d.) age: 41.8±5.7, mean (s.d.) body mass index (BMI): 29.6±5.7). Linear regression models were used to test the associations between baseline night-eating symptoms (NEQ scores, night-eating behaviours) and percent change in each of BMI and waist circumference (WC).

A high NEQ score predicted a small increase in percent change in BMI in nonobese parents but a decrease among those who were severely obese. Nocturnal ingestions of food predicted an increase in percent change in BMI; however, the effect size was small. Morning anorexia predicted an increase in percent change in WC.

Certain night-eating symptoms may predict measures of weight gain in adults but the effects seem small and the findings need to be confirmed in more symptomatic samples.