Disordered temporal eating patterns are a feature of a number of eating disorders. There is currently no standard mathematical model to quantify temporal eating patterns.
Objective
We aimed to develop a simple model by which to describe the temporal eating patterns of adult humans. For this purpose, patients with the night eating syndrome (NES) and persons without an eating disorder were assessed.
Design
Data were obtained from 2 studies, each involving patients with NES and control subjects. Data were analyzed by means of a novel equation to describe the 24-h temporal eating patterns. The equation employed the integration over time of 3 Gaussian equations to describe the cumulative daily caloric intake.
Results
The new model accurately described and quantified the temporal eating patterns of the subjects in the 2 studies. The analyses showed differences in the temporal eating patterns and in the amount of intake of normal-weight and overweight subjects with NES.
Conclusions
This novel model can be used to accurately and objectively describe and quantify temporal food intake patterns. It can also be used to establish norms for various human populations.
Cited by (0)
Supported by National Institutes of Health grants no. K12HD043459 (to KCA) and R01 DK056735 (to AJS).
From the New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA (RCB and PJM), and the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (KCA, JDL, and AJS)
