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Behavior and Psychology

Night-eating symptoms and 2-year weight change in parents enrolled in the QUALITY cohort

International Journal of Obesity volume 39, pages 1161–1165 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

This research was conducted by members of TEAM PRODIGY, an inter-university research team including Université de Montréal, Concordia University, Université Laval and McGill University. The QUALITY cohort is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec. AR Gallant is funded by the Quebec Heart and Lung Research Institute. Dr Marie Lambert (July 1952—February 2012), pediatric geneticist and researcher, initiated the QUALITY cohort. Her leadership and devotion to QUALITY will always be remembered and appreciated. Finally, we are grateful to all the families that participate in the QUALITY cohort. We thank Dr Albert Stunkard, the pioneer of NES, for his help with translating the NEQ. JOL holds a Canada Research Chair in the Early Determinants of Chronic Disease. MH holds a research scholar award (Junior 1) from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec—Santé (FRQS).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

    A Gallant & V Drapeau

  2. Quebec Heart and Lung Research Institute of Québec, Laval Hospital, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

    A Gallant, A Tremblay & V Drapeau

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA

    J Lundgren

  4. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    J O'Loughlin

  5. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    K Allison

  6. Department of Kinesiology, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

    A Tremblay

  7. Department of Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    M Henderson

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  1. A Gallant
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Correspondence to A Gallant.

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Gallant, A., Lundgren, J., O'Loughlin, J. et al. Night-eating symptoms and 2-year weight change in parents enrolled in the QUALITY cohort. Int J Obes 39, 1161–1165 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.36

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