The Potential Adverse Effects of Night-eating Habit on Gastrointestinal Symptom and SUI-TAI Symptom in Healthy Children

Objectives : Prevalence of night eating habit associated with substance use and obesity is increasing rapidly in children and adolescents. Further, staying up late and eating snacks late at night were known as leading health risk behaviors for children, suggesting the potential adverse effect of night-eating habit on children. However, only few reports had been issued on the effect of night-eating habit on gastrointestinal symptom and SUI-TAI(水滯) symptom of children. Therefore, we aimed to investigate clinical characteristics of children by night-eating symptom status. Methods : Parents were asked to give a detailed answer to a systemized medical history questionnaire concerning night-eating habit, gastrointestinal symptom and SUI-TAI symptom of their children. Medical records of 28 children treated in the Department of Pediatrics, Hospital of Oriental Medicine, were the subject of this study. Clinical characteristics of two groups of children who with no night-eating habit and frequent night-eating group(eating at night more than 3 times per week) were analysed. In addition, the correlation analysis between clinical characteristics were performed. Results : Children with frequent night-eating habit(n=7, more than 3 days of night-eating a week) were observed to have more aggravated gastrointestinal symptom and SUI-TAI symptom compared with those without night-eating habit(n=13). In parallel, the association of gastrointestinal symptom and SUI-TAI symptom was demonstrated(n=28). Conclusions : It is notable that deranged gastrointestinal function and aggravated SUI-TAI symptom were observed among children generally regarded as healthy. Therefore, endeavors to correct night-eating habit as well as to treat aggravated gastrointestinal and SUI-TAI symptoms are needed for the promotion of health of children.