Abstract
Recently, night eating syndrome (NES) was included into the DSM-5 as an example of “Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders.” The study provides insight into the population prevalence of NES using a large representative German population sample (n = 2,460) with a wide age range (14–85 years). The prevalence of NES was 1.1% using a cut-off on the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) of 25. A positive screening for NES was positively associated with depression and anxiety, eating disorder psychopathology, and body weight.
Highlights
The night eating syndrome (NES) was first described by Stunkard et al in 1955 [1] among obese individuals characterized by unsuccessful weight management
Significant positive associations emerged between a positive NES screening and BMI, level of anxiety/depression (PHQ-4 scores), and eating disorder psychopathology (EDE-Q8 scores) (Table 1)
Age-adjusted binary logistic regression analysis confirmed these results showing that BMI, PHQ-4, and EDE-Q8 scores were independently associated with a positive NES screening result
Summary
The night eating syndrome (NES) was first described by Stunkard et al in 1955 [1] among obese individuals characterized by unsuccessful weight management. It was conceptualized as a combination of eating disorder, sleep disorder, and mood disorder [1]. Inclusion in the DSM-5 was predated by the diagnostic criteria developed in the First International Night Eating Symposium [3]. The Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) was developed and validated as a screening tool and severity measure for the NES [4]
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