Tzischinsky Orna, Latzer Yael
Department of Behavioral Sciences, Emek Yezreel Academic College, Emek Yezreel, Israel.
Eating disorders institution, Psychiatric division, Rambam Health Care campus, Haifa, Israel.
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2025 Apr 16. doi: 10.1007/s00127-025-02880-w.
Night eating syndrome (NES) involves hyperphagia and nocturnal ingestion, causing significant distress and impairment. Despite its impact, NES is poorly understood and underdiagnosed both in clinical and community settings. Prevalence rates vary, highlighting the need for further research in community samples.
To assess NES prevalence in a community sample and its relationship with sleep disturbances, eating patterns, and psychopathology.
A total of 746 participants (ages 21-51), including 377 men (50.5%), were recruited through a large Israeli online platform. Participants completed self-report demographic data and questionnaires assessing NES, sleep disturbances, eating patterns, and psychopathology.
The prevalence of NES (night eating questionnaire/NEQ: score > 25, score > 21) was 8.8% and 18.2%, respectively. No significant differences in NES prevalence were found between genders or age groups in most of the variables. There were no significant differences between the NES and non-NES groups in terms of BMI, age, or gender. However, significant differences were found in sleep disturbances (PSQI total), depression, and anxiety. The NES group was significantly associated with higher levels of fat and carbohydrate consumption during the evening and night.
The NES prevalence among study participants was relatively higher than among previous community samples worldwide, despite participants having a BMI within the normal range. The higher prevalence, along with the significant associations with lower sleep quality, higher levels of anxiety and depression, and increased fat and carbohydrate consumption, underscore the need for greater emphasis on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of NES in the community beyond cultural differences.
夜间进食综合征（NES）表现为食欲亢进和夜间进食，会造成严重困扰和功能损害。尽管其有一定影响，但在临床和社区环境中，人们对NES了解甚少且诊断不足。患病率各不相同，这凸显了对社区样本进行进一步研究的必要性。
评估社区样本中NES的患病率及其与睡眠障碍、饮食模式和精神病理学的关系。
通过一个大型以色列在线平台招募了746名参与者（年龄在21 - 51岁之间），其中包括377名男性（50.5%）。参与者完成了自我报告的人口统计学数据以及评估NES、睡眠障碍、饮食模式和精神病理学的问卷。
NES的患病率（夜间进食问卷/NEQ：得分>25，得分>21）分别为8.8%和18.2%。在大多数变量中，性别或年龄组之间NES患病率无显著差异。NES组和非NES组在体重指数、年龄或性别方面无显著差异。然而，在睡眠障碍（PSQI总分）、抑郁和焦虑方面发现了显著差异。NES组与晚上和夜间较高的脂肪和碳水化合物摄入量显著相关。
尽管参与者的体重指数在正常范围内，但本研究参与者中NES的患病率相对高于全球此前的社区样本。较高的患病率，以及与较低睡眠质量、较高焦虑和抑郁水平以及脂肪和碳水化合物摄入量增加的显著关联，强调了在社区中超越文化差异更加强调NES的诊断、治疗和预防的必要性。
