title: Proportion of night eating syndrome in Arab population of Oman.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Globally obesity has reached epidemic proportions with alarming rates in the Arabian Gulf countries. The impact of behavioral eating habits and in particular night eating syndrome (NES) have not been emphasized in the region. This study assessed the proportion of NES in an Omani Arab adult population sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  A night eating syndrome questionnaire (NEQ) was distributed to Omani adults above the age of 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 454 respondents, 26.4 % endorsed evening hyperphagia while nocturnal ingestion was present in 4.7 % of the respondents. In addition, 1.5 % of the respondents met the NES criteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of NES in Omani adult population is similar to the reported rates in general world populations. In conclusion, night eating syndrome is present in the Omani Arab adults and should be taken into account in national management for increased obesity trends in the region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O box 35, 123 Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Fahad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zadjali
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Aaisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Bulushi
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: AlHassani
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Hinai
keywords: Evening hyperphagia; Middle East; Night eating; Obesity