| Night Eating may constitute a significant proportion of total daily energy intake and contribute to weight management problems for some individuals. Three studies were conducted to study night eating in metro Detroit subjects. Studies 1 and 2 were intervention studies in known overweight and obese night eaters at an obesity research affiliated clinic. Study 1 tested the hypothesis that providing a prescribed ready-to-eat cereal snack 90 minutes post supper would attenuate night eating and enhance weight loss in overweight night eaters. Study 2 tested the hypothesis that a partial meal replacement program would promote weight loss in obese night snackers. Study 3 tested the hypothesis that prevalence of night eating would meet or exceed the national adult population average of 1.5% in an African American (AA) predominantly homeless sample. In the first two studies, participants were randomized into two groups: The cereal intervention group and the control (no cereal) group and studied for 8 weeks. Results from Study 1 showed that compliant cereal intervention subjects lost -0.8+/-1.6 kg after 4 weeks (p=0.01). Study 2 showed that a partial meal replacement program using cereal improved: body wt -4.24+/-3.6 kg, BMI -1.48+/-1.23 kg/M2, body fat (%): -1.36+/-2.23, waist: -6.4+/-5.97 cm compared to baseline measures. Study 3 showed a night eating prevalence rate of 14.7% in an AA predominantly homeless sample which exceeded the national average of 1.5%. Significant differences between night eaters and non-night eaters included the following variables: family member night eats (p=0.001), education level (p=0.004), and homelessness (p=0.052). Based on the first two studies, it appears that prescribed cereal can attenuate night eating in overweight and obese night eaters. Based on the prevalence of night eating in Study 3, further study is needed to determine appropriate interventions in a predominantly homeless sample of AA night eaters as well. |
PDF Full Text Request