Binge eating disorder and night eating syndrome: a comparative study of disordered eating

J Consult Clin Psychol. 2005 Dec;73(6):1107-15. doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.73.6.1107.

Abstract

The authors compared eating patterns, disordered eating, features of eating disorders, and depressive symptoms in persons with binge eating disorder (BED; n = 177), with night eating syndrome (NES; n = 68), and in an overweight comparison group without BED or NES (comparison; n = 45). Participants completed semistructured interviews and several established measures. Depressive symptoms were greater in the BED and NES groups than in the comparison group. NES participants ate fewer meals during the day and more during the night than BED and comparison participants, whereas BED participants ate more during the day than the comparison participants. BED participants reported more objective bulimic and overeating episodes, shape/weight concerns, disinhibition, and hunger than NES and comparison participants, whereas NES participants reported more eating pathology than comparison participants. This evaluation provides strong evidence for the distinctiveness of the BED and NES constructs and highlights their clinical significance.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bulimia Nervosa / diagnosis*
  • Bulimia Nervosa / psychology*
  • Circadian Rhythm*
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / diagnosis
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged