Investigating the connections between night eating syndrome and metabolic syndrome in children

Eating disorders are considered to be the cause of obesity, particularly its abdominal type and metabolic syndrome (MS). Until recently, night eating syndrome (NES) and MS were documented only in the adult population, but nowadays they are also seen among children. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the association between NES and MS. A total of 120 overweight (18.33%) and obese (81.67%) children 10-17 years of age were examined (27 girls (22.5%) and 93 boys (77.5%)). Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were performed for all children. Serum triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins and glucose levels were assessed. Abdominal obesity was found in 70% of cases. NES was diagnosed in 20.83% of children­. MS was found in 34.17% of participants. MS was more prevalent in the NES group (56.00% (95% CI 30.62; 93.96)), compared with the non-NES group (28.42% (95% CI 18.73; 41.35)) (P < 0.05). NES increases the risk of MS development by 3 times (OR 3.21 (95% CI 1.29‒7.94); P = 0.012). Based on these results, careful screening­ for eating behavior and especially NES should be an integral part of the examination of overweight and obese children with the aim of timely diagnosis of MS.