Night eating symptoms and two-year weight change in parents enrolled in the QUALITY cohort

Background/Objective: The timing of food intake may be implicated in weight gain. This study tested the hypothesis that symptoms commonly associated with night-eating syndrome are related to measures of weight gain in adults. Subjects/Methods: Parents participating in QUALITY (Québec Adipose and Lifestyle InvesTigation in Youth) completed the night eating questionnaire (NEQ) at baseline (2005–2008) and at follow-up (2008–2010). Height and weight were measured and self-report questionnaire data were available for 388 parents (59% female, mean (s.d.) age: 41.8±5.7, mean (s.d.) body mass index (BMI): 29.6±5.7). Linear regression models were used to test the associations between baseline night-eating symptoms (NEQ scores, night-eating behaviours) and percent change in each of BMI and waist circumference (WC). Results: A high NEQ score predicted a small increase in percent change in BMI in nonobese parents but a decrease among those who were severely obese. Nocturnal ingestions of food predicted an increase in percent change in BMI; however, the effect size was small. Morning anorexia predicted an increase in percent change in WC. Conclusion: Certain night-eating symptoms may predict measures of weight gain in adults but the effects seem small and the findings need to be confirmed in more symptomatic samples