Childhood obesity: survey of physician assessment and treatment practices.

BACKGROUND: This study examined physician experience with the 2007 Expert Committee Recommendations (ECR) on the Assessment, Prevention and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity. METHODS: Pediatricians and family physicians (n = 194) practicing in the Midwest completed a survey designed to assess knowledge of, adherence to, and self-efficacy in implementing the 2007 Expert Committee recommendations. RESULTS: The majority of physicians (71%) were aware of the ECR and adhered to approximately 60% of the recommendations. Adherence was significantly higher for physicians who were aware of the ECR. Differences in awareness of and adherence to the ECR were noted among physician groups by specialty and location. Self-efficacy for assessing and treating pediatric obesity was significantly positively correlated with adherence to the ECR (Pearson r = 0.46). When asked for strategies that would facilitate improved pediatric weight management, physicians most often reported desiring to learn effective methods to increase patient motivation. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to improve adherence to the Expert Committee recommendations should focus on improving physician awareness of and training in the use of the recommendations and on improved training and development of self-efficacy in pediatric weight assessment and patient counseling skills.

Night eating patterns of individuals with eating disorders: implications for conceptualizing the night eating syndrome.

The prevalence, correlates, and symptom coherence of night eating syndrome (NES) in individuals seeking inpatient treatment for eating disorders were assessed. Inpatients (n=68; M age=29.8 years; % female=94.1; % diagnosed with anorexia nervosa [AN]=47.1; % diagnosed with bulimia nervosa [BN]=47.1) were interviewed with the Night Eating Syndrome History and Inventory. Additionally, medical charts were reviewed and participants completed measures of eating behavior and quality of life. NES was diagnosed in 25% of patients; significantly more patients diagnosed with BN meet criteria for NES compared to those diagnosed with AN. In general, patients with NES did not differ from patients without NES on eating behaviors, attitudes, or quality of life; symptoms of NES frequently co-occurred. This study supports previous research finding that night eating behavior is common in individuals diagnosed with eating disorders.

The relationship of night eating to oral health and obesity in community dental clinic patients.

Using a sample of dental clinic patients, this study examined the relationship between night eating and oral health and obesity. For this study, 174 individuals attending an academic faculty dental practice completed the Night Eating Questionnaire and provided information about their tobacco use, medical conditions, height, and weight. Oral health data from the previous three years were obtained from their dental records by a licensed dentist. Regression analysis was used to predict oral health and obesity status when controlling for known confounding variables. Evening hyperphagia (7.1%) and frequent nocturnal eating upon awakening (2.2%) were not prevalent in this sample and reflect prevalence estimates of night eating syndrome in the general population. Nocturnal eating was a significant predictor of missing teeth, periodontal disease, and active decay; however, evening hyperphagia was not a significant predictor of oral disease. Individuals who reported nocturnal ingestions of food were 4.4 times more likely to be overweight or obese than those who did not. Evening hyperphagia was not associated with an increased risk of being overweight or obese.