Night eating behavior and metabolic heath in mothers and fathers enrolled in the QUALITY cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Desynchrony between eating and sleeping patterns and poor sleep quality have been associated with obesity and metabolic abnormalities. This study examined the metabolic health correlates of night eating syndrome in adults enrolled in the QUALITY cohort study.


METHODS
Night eating symptoms were assessed in 310 women (mean age = 40.3 ± 5.1 years, mean BMI = 28.8 ± 6.2 kg/m(2)) and 305 men (mean age = 42.5 ± 5.9 years, mean BMI = 30.3 ± 5.0 kg/m(2)). Anthropometric measures, fasting blood samples and blood pressure were used to diagnose metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) diagnosis was self-report. Correlational and case/control comparisons assessed night eating symptoms in persons with and without MetS and T2D.


RESULTS
Night eating questionnaire (NEQ) scores were positively correlated with BMI. When controlling for BMI, NEQ scores were significantly negatively correlated with blood pressure in women and positively correlated with waist circumference and triglycerides in men. MetS diagnosis was associated with morning anorexia in both women and men and urges to eat at night in women only. T2D was associated with a depressed mood in women and with insomnia in men.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptoms of night eating syndrome are associated with higher BMI and poor metabolic health. Future research is needed to determine if night eating syndrome per se is a unique causal pathway in the development of obesity and metabolic disease.
Department of Physical Education, Laval University, 2300 rue de la Terrasse, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Quebec Heart and Lung Research Institute, Laval Hospital, 2725 Chemin Ste-Foy, Quebec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada.
Annette
A
Gallant
Department of Physical Education, Laval University, 2300 rue de la Terrasse, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Quebec Heart and Lung Research Institute, Laval Hospital, 2725 Chemin Ste-Foy, Quebec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada.
Vicky
V
Drapeau
Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309, USA.
Kelly C
KC
Allison
Department of Kinesiology, Laval University, 2300 rue de la Terrasse, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Quebec Heart and Lung Research Institute, Laval Hospital, 2725 Chemin Ste-Foy, Quebec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada.
Angelo
A
Tremblay
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Ste-Justine, 3175 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada.
Marie
M
Lambert
Department Kinesiology, Université de Montréal, 2100 boul Édouard-Montpetit, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada.
Jennifer
J
O'Loughlin
Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5030 Cherry Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA. Electronic address: lundgrenj@umkc.edu.
Jennifer D
JD
Lundgren
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D021081:Chronobiology Disorders; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013577:Syndrome
Depressed mood; Insomnia; Metabolic syndrome; Morning anorexia; Night eating; Type 2 diabetes