{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,29]],"date-time":"2026-05-29T12:05:53Z","timestamp":1780056353221,"version":"3.54.0"},"reference-count":18,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,13]],"date-time":"2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1741824000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,13]],"date-time":"2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1741824000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100018822","name":"Western Sydney University","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100018822","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Eat Weight Disord"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>The association of night eating (NE) and NE syndrome (NES) with dysfunctional eating behaviors, mental health and quality-of-life outcomes has been little explored in the general population. The objective of this study was to explore this for dysfunctional eating behaviors: binge-eating, use of purging, dietary restriction, use of medication to control weight; mental health: anxiety\/depression; and quality-of-life outcomes: mental and physical health-related quality of life (M\/PHRQoL). NE captured whether in the past 3\u00a0months, the respondents had any episodes of waking from sleep and eating, or episodes of eating a very large amount of food after evening meal excluding any such events at social gatherings or travelling overseas on a night flight or because of work shifts. NES was defined by at least weekly episodes of NE with \u2018a lot\u2019 of distress.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>In 2017, 2977 adults from randomly selected households in South Australia were interviewed. Analyses for bivariate association were conducted using weighted tetrachoric and weighted polychoric correlations, and ordinal and binary logistic models, to determine the association between current (3 months) NE or NES as an outcome, and binge-eating, use of purging, dietary restriction, use of medication to control weight, anxiety\/depression, mental and physical health-related quality of life (M\/PHRQoL) as predictors after controlling for age, sex, and body weight. All analyses adjusted for design effect by stratified cluster sampling.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>Ordinal logistic regression found significantly higher odds of episodes of NE with binge-eating (OR\u2009=\u20091.756, 95% CI 1.527\u20132.020, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.001), and significantly lower odds with increased MHRQoL (OR\u2009=\u20090.948, 95% 0.921\u20130.975, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.001) and increased PHRQoL (OR\u2009=\u20090.976, 95% CI 0.966\u20130.986, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.001). Binary logistic regression found significantly higher odds of NES with binge-eating (OR\u2009=\u20092.62, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.001), and restrictive dieting (OR\u2009=\u20092.491, 95% CI 1.647\u20133.769, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.01), and significantly lower odds with MHRQoL (OR\u2009=\u20090.913, 95% CI 0.879\u20130.948, <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&lt;\u20090.001).<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>Those with a history of binge-eating have higher likelihood of having both NE and NES which are also increased for the former in those with poorer MHRQoL and PHRQoL, and for the latter in only those with poorer MHRQoL. Revisions of diagnostic schemes may consider these findings in the context of delineation of boundaries between eating disorder syndromes.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Levels of evidence<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>Multivariate binary logistic regression analyses found there were significantly higher odds of having night eating syndrome in association with binge eating and restrictive dieting and significantly lower odds of night eating syndrome in association with increases in MHRQoL. These results support the Muscatello et al. (Aust N Z J Psychiatry 56:120\u20131362022, 2022) review noting associations and overlap between night eating syndrome and other eating disorders characterized by recurrent binge-eating, and the reported associations with disorders of restrictive eating. As both night eating and binge-eating are symptoms of over or excessive eating this was not unexpected. However, the findings at a diagnostic level in this study did also support research that has found overlap between night eating syndrome and disorders characterized by restrictive eating and\/or purging behaviors. By \u201cat a diagnostic level\u201d what we meant was when at a level associated with marked distress, as the DSM requires either functional impairment or psychological distress to be present as a defining feature of any mental health disorder and distress is a defining feature of NES (American Psychiatric Association 2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. Arlington, American Psychiatric Publishing Inc.). MHRQoL rather than PHRQoL was associated with night eating syndrome. More research is required to confirm this result and it does not negate the clinical importance of consideration of physical health status of people with night eating syndrome (Muscatello et al. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 56:120\u2013136, 2022; Sakthivel et al. Eat Weight Disorders-Stud Anorexia Bulimia Obes 28:77, 2023). This study did not find that those who have perceived subjective anxiety\/depression have significantly higher odds of NE as well as NES. This may have been because the present study did not have an assessment of depression or anxiety using a validated instrument, but rather a broad self-reported experience of current perceived anxiety and\/or depression. Other studies have been also more often conduced in clinical populations which may be expected to have higher rates of mental health comorbidities (Muscatello et al. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 56:120\u2013136, 2022) than this general population sample.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Public significance statement<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>To our knowledge this is the first study in a representative adult general population examining the relationships between night eating (NE), NE syndrome (NES) and binge eating, purging, strict dieting and general anxiety or general depression. Those with a history of binge eating and having poorer MHRQoL and PHRQoL have higher likelihoods of experiencing NE. The same associations of these factors except for that of PHRQoL were found with NES. Revisions of diagnostic schemes may consider these findings in the context of delineation of boundaries between eating disorder syndromes. As the nature of overeating is defined more broadly in NES than in other eating disorders it is important to explore all forms of overeating when undertaking estimates of the population prevalence and burden of eating disorder.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1007\/s40519-025-01732-5","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,13]],"date-time":"2025-03-13T15:55:23Z","timestamp":1741881323000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Night eating and night eating syndrome: associations with dysfunctional eating behaviors, mental health and quality-of-life measures in Australian adults"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"30","author":[{"given":"Haider","family":"Mannan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stephen","family":"Touyz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Phillipa","family":"Hay","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"1732_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"American Psychiatric Association (2013) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed. Arlington (VA): American Psychiatric Association","DOI":"10.1176\/appi.books.9780890425596"},{"issue":"2","key":"1732_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1177\/00048674211025714","volume":"56","author":"MRA Muscatello","year":"2022","unstructured":"Muscatello MRA, Torre G, Celebre L, Dell\u2019Osso B, Mento C, Zoccali RA, Bruno A (2022) \u2018In the night kitchen\u2019: a scoping review on the NE syndrome. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 56(2):120\u2013136","journal-title":"Aust N Z J Psychiatry"},{"issue":"6","key":"1732_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"981","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033291719000898","volume":"50","author":"D Mitchison","year":"2020","unstructured":"Mitchison D, Mond J, Bussey K, Griffiths S, Trompeter N, Lonergan A et al (2020) DSM-5 full syndrome, other specified, and unspecified eating disorders in Australian adolescents: prevalence and clinical significance. Psychol Med 50(6):981\u2013990","journal-title":"Psychol Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"1732_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1007\/s40519-023-01603-x","volume":"28","author":"SJ Sakthivel","year":"2023","unstructured":"Sakthivel SJ, Hay P, Touyz S, Currow D, Mannan H (2023) Association of participants who screened positive for night eating syndrome with physical health, sleep problems, and weight status in an Australian adult population. Eat Weight Disorders-Stud Anorexia Bulimia Obes 28(1):77","journal-title":"Eat Weight Disorders-Stud Anorexia Bulimia Obes"},{"issue":"7","key":"1732_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1148","DOI":"10.1038\/ijo.2017.79","volume":"41","author":"FQ Da Luz","year":"2017","unstructured":"Da Luz FQ, Sainsbury A, Mannan H, Touyz S, Mitchison D, Hay P (2017) Prevalence of obesity and comorbid eating disorder behaviors in South Australia from 1995 to 2015. Int J Obes 41(7):1148\u20131153","journal-title":"Int J Obes"},{"key":"1732_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2874","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brat.2007.05.007","volume":"45","author":"KC Allison","year":"2007","unstructured":"Allison KC, Grilo CM, Masheb RM et al (2007) High self-reported rates of neglect and emotional abuse, by persons with binge eating disorder and night eating syndrome. Behav Res Ther 45:2874\u20132883","journal-title":"Behav Res Ther"},{"key":"1732_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1722","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.ijo.0803664","volume":"31","author":"SL Colles","year":"2007","unstructured":"Colles SL, Dixon JB, O\u2019Brien PE (2007) Night eating syndrome and nocturnal snacking: association with obesity, binge eating and psychological distress. Int J Obes 31:1722\u20131730","journal-title":"Int J Obes"},{"key":"1732_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpr.2011.11.001","volume":"32","author":"JS Vander Wal","year":"2012","unstructured":"Vander Wal JS (2012) Night eating syndrome: a critical review of the literature. Clin Psychol Rev 32:49\u201359","journal-title":"Clin Psychol Rev"},{"key":"1732_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1038","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jfma.2018.10.010","volume":"118","author":"CY Tu","year":"2019","unstructured":"Tu CY, Meg Tseng MC, Chang CH (2019) Night eating syndrome in patients with eating disorders: is night eating syndrome distinct from bulimia nervosa? J Formos Med Assoc 118:1038\u20131046","journal-title":"J Formos Med Assoc"},{"issue":"1","key":"1732_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1007\/s40519-023-01532-9","volume":"28","author":"W Kim","year":"2023","unstructured":"Kim W, Ju YJ, Lee SY (2023) The association between night eating syndrome and health-related quality of life in Korean adults: a nationwide study. Eat Weight Disord Stud Anorexia Bulimia Obes 28(1):17","journal-title":"Eat Weight Disord Stud Anorexia Bulimia Obes"},{"issue":"3","key":"1732_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1002\/eat.20693","volume":"43","author":"KC Allison","year":"2010","unstructured":"Allison KC, Lundgren JD, O\u2019Reardon JP, Geliebter A, Gluck ME, Vinai P, Mitchell JE, Schenck CH, Howell MJ, Crow SJ, Engel S, Latzer Y, Tzischinsky O, Mahowald MW, Stunkard AJ (2010) Proposed diagnostic criteria for night eating syndrome. Int J Eat Disord 43(3):241\u2013247. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/eat.20693","journal-title":"Int J Eat Disord"},{"key":"1732_CR12","unstructured":"Fairburn CG. Cognitive behavior therapy and eating disorders. Ebrary I, editor. New York: New York : Guilford Press; 2008."},{"key":"1732_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/00005650-199603000-00003","author":"JE Ware Jr","year":"1996","unstructured":"Ware JE Jr, Kosinski M, Keller SD (1996) A 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey: construction of scales and preliminary tests of reliability and validity. Med Care. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/00005650-199603000-00003","journal-title":"Med Care"},{"key":"1732_CR14","unstructured":"SAS Version 9.4. SAS Institute. Cary, North Carolina, USA."},{"issue":"12","key":"1732_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2791","DOI":"10.3390\/nu15122791","volume":"15","author":"SJ Sakthivel","year":"2023","unstructured":"Sakthivel SJ, Hay P, Mannan H (2023) A scoping review on the association between NE syndrome and physical health, health-related quality of life, sleep and weight status in adults. Nutrients 15(12):2791","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"issue":"21","key":"1732_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7955","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17217955","volume":"17","author":"J Arias-de la Torre","year":"2020","unstructured":"Arias-de la Torre J, Vilagut G, Serrano-Blanco A, Mart\u00edn V, Molina AJ, Valderas JM, Alonso J (2020) Accuracy of self-reported items for the screening of depression in the general population. Int J Environ Res Public Health 17(21):7955. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph17217955","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"1732_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3527","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-019-40072-0","volume":"9","author":"PJ Ho","year":"2019","unstructured":"Ho PJ, Tn CS, Shawon SR, Eriksson M, Lim LY, Miao H et al (2019) Comparison of self-reported and register-based hospital medical data on comorbidities in women. Sci Rep 9(1):3527","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"issue":"1","key":"1732_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2288-8-37","volume":"8","author":"B Smith","year":"2008","unstructured":"Smith B, Chu LK, Smith TC, Amoroso PJ, Boyko EJ, Hooper TI et al (2008) Challenges of self-reported medical conditions and electronic medical records among members of a large military cohort. BMC Med Res Methodol 8(1):1\u201310","journal-title":"BMC Med Res Methodol"}],"container-title":["Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s40519-025-01732-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s40519-025-01732-5\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s40519-025-01732-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,13]],"date-time":"2025-03-13T15:55:28Z","timestamp":1741881328000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/s40519-025-01732-5"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,13]]},"references-count":18,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}},"alternative-id":["1732"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s40519-025-01732-5","relation":{},"ISSN":["1590-1262"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1590-1262","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,13]]},"assertion":[{"value":"20 December 2024","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"20 February 2025","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"13 March 2025","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The study was approved by the University of Adelaide Human Research Ethics Committee Protocol Number H-097-2010 and participants provided informed consent. We received Ethics exemption to conduct later analyses on de-identifed data from Western Sydney University HREC. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"24"}}