Night Eating Bigger Problem than Bingeing among Diabetics

(SILVER SPRING, MD, May 10, 2007)-New research published in the May issue of Obesity suggests that among obese adults with type 2 diabetes, night eating syndrome (NES) was more frequently reported than binge eating disorder.

Night eating syndrome (NES) is excessive eating in the evening after dinner and waking during the night to ingest more food three or more times per week. Barry Popkin of The Obesity Society states: "Night eating syndrome is an issue that has been found to be far more common and more important among obese individuals in a number of studies. This study highlights the higher prevalence of this behavior among a large study of diabetics in the US."

People with binge eating disorder (BED) eat an unusually large amount of food and feel that their eating is out of control. They may eat more quickly than usual, eat until uncomfortably full, eat large amounts of food even when not hungry, and may eat alone because they feel embarrassed, disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating. BED and NES are two forms of disordered eating that most commonly affect overweight and obese persons.

Kelly Allison, lead author notes "We thought that rates of disorderd eating would be lower in this sample due to their older age but were surprised at just how low the rate of binge eating disorder was, and were further surprised to find that NES was more prevalent than BED."

Participants were part of the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study, a multicenter NIH clinical trial to assess the long-term effects of an intensive weight loss program in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. The Look AHEAD study began in 2001 and is scheduled to conclude in 2012. Participants in this study were enrolled from four sites. Each was given an Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire that assessed the frequency of different forms of overeating during the previous 28 days. A total of 845 Look AHEAD participants completed the questionnaire.

Dr. Allison states that "those with BED and NES reported that their weight problems began earlier in life and were slightly younger than those without disordered eating when they were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. While their disordered eating did not impact diabetes-related health measures, depressed mood and eating disordered attitudes and behaviors were elevated among those with BED and NES, suggesting that practitioners may need to consider these psychological aspects as part of a comprehensive diabetes management program."

Previous studies have associated obesity with limits in mobility but this is the first representative longitudinal study to analyze the effects that the age at becoming obese and the length of time being obese has on mobility limitation among middle-age and older people.

The Obesity Society is the leading scientific society dedicated to the study of obesity. Since 1982 The Obesity Society has been committed to encouraging research on the causes and treatment of obesity, and to keeping the medical community and public informed of new advances. For more information about The Obesity Society and obesity, visit www.naaso.org or contact:

Nancy Olins
The Obesity Society
nolins@naaso.org