Examining the multifaceted factors of night eating syndrome among adults in Saudi Arabia: A nursing perspective

Background: Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is a prevalent eating disorder that significantly impacts individuals' quality of life and well-being. However, most NES research has focused on adolescent populations, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of its prevalence and predictors among adults, particularly in the MENA region. This study, therefore, presents a novel contribution by filling this gap and determining the prevalence of NES and its predictors among adults in Abha, Saudi Arabia.

Design: A descriptive correctional design was conducted on 714 adults randomly recruited from primary healthcare centers (PHCCs).

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire, which comprised a demographic and lifestyle data sheet and the Arabic version of the NES questionnaire, was used for data collection.

Results: 13.3 % of the participants reported having full syndrome of NES, with 16.1 % of males and 22.5 % of females reporting high NES awareness. Meanwhile, 14.4 % of the participants were non-emotional eaters. This finding is significant as it sheds light on the high prevalence of NES among Saudi adults. Significant differences were observed between NES and higher education, sleeping patterns, smoking habits, dietary type, and exercise routines, with an OR of 1.422, 40.78, 6.14, 66.70, and 4.47, respectively, and a p-value of <0.001.

Conclusion: NES was a common eating disorder among Saudi adults. Higher education, inadequate sleep, smoking, unhealthy diet, and lack of exercise were the most significant predictors of NES. These findings underline the importance of addressing these factors in preventing and managing NES. Social media campaigns, awareness campaigns, and cognitive behavioral and mindfulness therapies could effectively address NES. However, further research is necessary to identify underlying causes and assess their association with comorbidities, providing a clear direction for future studies.