Nocturnal eating in binge eating disorder and matched-weight controls.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association of nocturnal eating (getting up out of bed to eat) with overweight, binge eating, and negative mood or anxiety.


METHODS
Forty overweight women diagnosed with binge eating disorder (BED) and 39 overweight controls monitored their nocturnal eating for an average of eight nights.


RESULTS
Seven instances of nocturnal eating were recorded by 6 patients, all of whom were binge eaters. Foods consumed nocturnally tended to be selected from those favored for binge episodes, and reported control over nocturnal eating was low. Patients reported tiredness, but not poor mood or anxiety, at the nocturnal eating episodes.


CONCLUSIONS
In this sample, nocturnal eating was associated more with eating disorder than overweight. This report should provide the basis of future work to determine whether nocturnal eating should be evaluated and treated among eating disordered or overweight groups of patients.
Greeno
C G
CG
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA, USA.
Wing
R R
RR
Marcus
M D
MD
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment