Night Eating Syndrome and Its Relationship with Emotional Eating, Sleep Quality and Nutritional Status Among Adolescents' Boys

[Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and eating behaviour in Spanish schoolchildren]

Introduction

Introduction: eating behaviors may modulate or influence diet quality and the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet in children and adolescents. Aims: to investigate the association between diet quality and eating behavior in a group of Spanish schoolchildren. Methods: descriptive cross-sectional study of 283 Spain schoolchildren aged six to 16. Each subject was assessed using the KIDMED questionnaire for adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) questionnaire to assess eating behavior. Results: of the sample, 12.80 % had low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, 59.80 % had poor adherence, 59.80 % could be improved, and 27.40 % had high adherence. When relating eating behavior to dietary quality, it was found that, generally, schoolchildren with greater enjoyment of food and less demand for food have double the adherence to the Mediterranean diet due to almost twice the consumption of vegetables, nuts, and fish, and a lower intake of low-quality processed foods (sweets). The response to satiety and the speed of ingestion also played an important role in food choices. Conclusions: eating behaviors may play an essential role in the quality of school children's diets highlighting the enjoyment and acceptance or rejection of food. Given the bidirectional nature of the effects between eating behaviors and diet quality, the joint analysis may be the basis for future research with the aim of a better nutritional approach from the earliest ages.

The association between cholesterol/saturated fat index (CSI) and quality of sleep, and circadian rhythm among overweight and obese women: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The decline in sleep quality is one of the main public health problems affecting the global population. Some studies have shown that a high-fat diet may be linked to changes in circadian rhythm and sleep quality. The cholesterol/saturated fatty acid index (CSI) determines the amount of cholesterol and saturated fatty acid (SFA) in people's dietary patterns and can affect the quality of sleep and circadian rhythm. However, to date, no studies have investigated the effect of this index on these two variables. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the relationship between CSI on circadian rhythm and sleep quality in obese and overweight women.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study included 378 adult women who were obese or overweight. Using accepted techniques, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure readings, and biochemical variables were evaluated. A validated and trustworthy semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ 147 items) was used to gauge dietary intake. The CSI was measured to find out how much cholesterol and saturated fats were in the diet. Additionally, to assess circadian rhythm and sleep quality, respectively, the valid morning-evening questionnaire (MEQ) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) questionnaires were utilized.

RESULT

The results of the multinomial logistic regression model of our analysis showed that a significant association was observed between circadian rhythm status with CSI score, and participants with one higher unit of CSI had a 7.3% more chance of being in the eveningness group than being in morningness category in the crude model (OR: 1.07; 95% CI 1.00, 1.14; P = 0.026). This association remains marginally significant when adjusting for age, energy intake, BMI, job status, thyroid, and smoking status (OR = 1.08; 95% CI 1.00, 1.16; P = 0.051). The binary logistic regression model showed that after controlling for potentially confounding variables, there was no significant association between sleep quality with CSI score, however, those with one higher unit of CSI had 1.6% more chance of having sleep problems (OR: 1.01; 95% CI 0.96, 1.06; P = 0.503).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicated a direct marginally significant association between CSI with evening type in overweight and obese women. Future studies are needed to clarify the precise link between circadian rhythm and sleep behavior with fatty acid quality index.

Night eating syndrome subtypes: differences in binge eating and food addiction symptoms

PURPOSE

The purpose of the current study was to examine differences in binge eating and food addiction symptoms between Night Eating Syndrome (NES) latent subtypes: evening hyperphagia with nocturnal ingestions (EHNI), evening hyperphagia-only (EHO), and nocturnal ingestions-only (NIO). It was hypothesized that the EHNI group would report more binge eating behaviors and more food addiction symptoms than both the EHO and NIO groups. Further, it was hypothesized that the EHO and NIO groups would differ with the EHO group reporting more binge eating behaviors and the NIO group reporting more food addiction symptoms.

METHODS

Participants completed measures online relating to night eating, binge eating, and food addiction. Average age of the final sample was 34.3 (SD = 10.5) and 62.0% were men. Responses to the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ; Allison et al., 2008) were used to create an EHNI group (n = 65), an EHO group (n = 32), and a NIO group (n = 69). ANOVAs were conducted to examine between-group differences on disordered eating symptoms.

RESULTS

Participants in the EHNI group reported more severe binge eating and food addiction symptoms than those in the EHO and NIO groups. However, there were no significant differences in binge eating or food addiction between the EHO and NIO groups.

CONCLUSION

Individuals who meet both NES core criteria (evening hyperphagia and nocturnal ingestions) are likely at a higher risk for experiencing other, more severe disordered eating pathologies. Implications concerning assessment and future research on NES typology are discussed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

An Updated Review of Night Eating Syndrome: An Under-Represented Eating Disorder

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Night eating syndrome (NES) is an eating disorder that has historically been under-studied. The current review aims to summarize the most up-to-date research on NES to support better awareness.

RECENT FINDINGS

Since NES was recently included as a formal diagnosis, research on the prevalence of NES is ever evolving. Current studies underscore the high comorbidity between NES and other eating disorders, with additional complexities for patient with comorbid eating disorders. Recent findings also support the association between NES and sleep correlates, a relationship that has remained during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging research confirms correlates of distress in NES across cultures. There remain mixed findings between NES and BMI. There is also debate around whether age is a risk factor. Bariatric surgery research has focused on the re-emergence of NES post-operatively. Our understanding of the correlates of NES is increasing. However, research on the treatment for NES remains particularly under-studied and requires further attention.

Exploring the bidirectional relationships between night eating, loss of control eating, and sleep quality in Chinese adolescents: A four-wave cross-lagged study

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the bidirectional relationships between sleep quality, loss of control (LOC) eating, and night eating in Chinese adolescents using longitudinal data over an 18-month study period.

METHOD

Four-waves of data measurement (Waves 1-4), at 6-month intervals, were conducted with 2566 adolescents aged 11-17 years at baseline. A set of questionnaires were used to assess night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality at each wave of data collection. Cross-lagged models were applied to analyze the bidirectional relationships between night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality.

RESULTS

Results indicated that higher night eating scores consistently predicted poorer sleep quality and higher LOC eating scores at Waves 1, 2, and 3. Furthermore, poorer sleep quality predicted higher night eating scores at Wave 1 and Wave 3, and higher LOC eating scores predicted higher night eating scores at Wave 1 and Wave 2.

DISCUSSION

These findings highlight that night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality were interrelated across time in Chinese adolescents. Improving sleep quality and reducing LOC eating might be promising in the prevention of night eating in adolescents. Similarly, reducing night eating might be promising in improving sleep quality and reducing LOC eating in adolescents.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

This study explored the bidirectional relationship between night eating, LOC eating, and sleep quality in Chinese adolescents using cross-lagged models. Findings indicate bidirectional relationships between these variables and highlight the potential utility in incorporating sleep, LOC eating, and night eating interventions in eating pathology prevention designs for adolescents.

A comparison of emotional eating, social anxiety and parental attitude among adolescents with obesity and healthy: A case-control study

This case-controlled study was conducted to determine and compare the emotional eating, social anxiety and parental attitude in those adolescents with obesity and healthy counterparts. The sample of the study consist of obese adolescents in 14-18 aged (n = 150) followed up in the pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital and healthy adolescents in 14-18 aged (n = 150) who were studying in high schools. The data were collected using a questionnaire form, Emotional Eating Scale Adapted to Use in Children and Adolescents (EES-C), Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised (SASC-R) and Parenting Style Scale (PSS). The SASC-R and EES-C mean scores of obese adolescents were 39.03 ± 13.09 (p ≤ 0.001) and 76.66 ± 16.30 (p ≤ 0.001), respectively. The mean scores of PSS-AI, PSS-SS and PSS-PA subscales in obese adolescents were 26.80 ± 4.42 (p ≤ 0.001), 28.14 ± 4.06 (p ≤ 0.001) and 22.32 ± 4.63 (p = 0.037), respectively. There was a low-level correlation between the EES-C and SASC-R mean scores of obese adolescents (p < 0.05). The mean scores of PSS-AI, PSS-SS and PSS-PA subscales of PSS with EES-C and SASC-R of obese adolescents were no correlated (p > 0.05). In this study, the mean scores of the emotional eating and social anxiety of obese adolescents were higher than healthy ones. There was a low level of positive correlation between emotional eating and social anxiety mean scores of obese adolescents.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for Adolescents

Background: Both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies show that poor sleep is a health concern related to further psychological and physiological issues during adolescence. To assess subjective sleep quality and sleep patterns among adults, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a well and internationally established tool. Here, we established the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the PSQI for adolescents. Method: A total of 1477 adolescents (mean age: 15.47 years; 53.2% females) took part in the study. They completed a booklet on sociodemographic information, the Persian version of the PSQI for adolescents, and the Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale (ASHS). We relied on classical test reliability approaches of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Results: Classical exploratory factor analysis yielded the seven-factor solution, with concurrent confirmation and overlap with the dimensions of the ASHS, although correlation coefficients were small to medium. A further factor analysis yielded a four-factor solution, explaining 72% of the variance of the PSQI. Further, three out of these four factors predicted the ASHS overall score. Conclusions: The Persian version of the PSQI for adolescents showed satisfactory psychometric properties. It follows that the Persian PSQI is a suitable tool to assess sleep quality and sleep patterns among adolescents.

Poor sleep and adolescent obesity risk: a narrative review of potential mechanisms

Poor sleep is related to increased obesity risk in adolescents, though the mechanisms of this relationship are unclear. This paper presents a conceptual framework of the various pathways that have been proposed to drive this relationship. In this framework, increased food reward, emotional reactivity, decreased inhibitory control, metabolic disturbances, poorer dietary quality, and disrupted meal timings may increase the likelihood of increasing overall energy intake. This paper further notes how poor sleep increases sedentary behavior and screen time, which likely limits overall energy expenditure. The model posits that these mechanisms result in an imbalance of energy intake and expenditure following poor sleep, intensifying the overall risk for obesity. Increases in food reward processes, decreases in insulin sensitivity, disrupted meal timing, and increases in sedentary behavior seem to be the most compelling mechanisms linking poor sleep with increased obesity risk in adolescents. Future directions and clinical implications of this framework are discussed.