Night eating patterns of patients with bulimia nervosa: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
This preliminary study examined nighttime eating behavior among patients with bulimia nervosa (BN).


METHODS
The nighttime eating behavior of 31 females (age: 17-49 yr) enrolled in an outpatient cognitive-behavioral treatment study for BN was assessed with the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ); patient subgroups were compared on the NEQ, Beck Depression Inventory, and Eating Disorder Inventory, and effect sizes were derived.


RESULTS
Nighttime eating behavior was common. Sixteen patients (52%) reported evening hyperphagia, nocturnal ingestions of food, or both night eating behaviors. Clinically interesting patterns emerged on symptom assessments, although effect sizes were small.


CONCLUSIONS
The nighttime eating behavior of individuals with eating disorders should be examined further. These preliminary findings suggest that current conceptualizations of the night eating syndrome are limited by research which has often excluded patients with primary diagnoses of eating disorders.
Lundgren
J D
JD
University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA. lundgrenj@umkc.edu
Shapiro
J R
JR
Bulik
C M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult