Nocturnal eating in obese patients prior to bariatric surgery

Nocturnal eating is common among obese patients prior to bariatric surgery. Little is known about the relationship between nocturnal eating, eating-related and general psychopathology, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). A group of 148 obese patients (mean BMI 49.3, SD 7.8) prior to bariatric surgery were investigated. We compared patients who reported nocturnal eating at least once in the last 4 weeks with patients without nocturnal eating episodes. Patients completed a battery of questionnaires assessing eating related and general psychopathology and quality of life. Twenty-nine (19.6%) patients reported nocturnal eating (eating after waking up at night) during the last 28 nights, men and women did not differ in frequency of nocturnal eating. Patients with nocturnal eating reported a significantly higher BMI (kg/m(2)), more feelings of hunger, and significantly more impairment in the mental aspects of HRQOL. The other measures of HRQOL showed only minor differences. Measures of general psychopathology (depression and anxiety) also differed significantly with nocturnal eating patients reporting significantly more impairment. Binge eating disorder and nocturnal eating showed no association.