Study Will Look at Effect of Circadian System on Eating Disorders

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati and the Lindner Center of HOPE are developing a clinical trial to study whether readjusting the circadian system of individuals with binge eating behavior can help with understanding why it occurs and develop new treatment options.

Binge eating disorder affects about 2.8 million people in the United States and is the most common eating disorder worldwide. It is also frequently diagnosed as a co-occurring disorder in individuals with obesity and other psychiatric diagnoses, including mood and anxiety disorders.

“The circadian system makes it possible for our body to adapt to day and night periods, which has profound effects on physiology and behavior beyond regulation of sleep and wake cycles,” Francisco Romo-Nava, MD, PhD, an associate professor in the UC Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, associate chief research officer for the Lindner Center of HOPE Research Institute and UC Health physician scientist, said in a news release. “The most powerful signals that synchronize our circadian system are the presence of daylight and the production of melatonin at night, which is the chemical signal of darkness.”

Romo-Nava noted that other recent studies have suggested that the circadian system could be involved with regulating food choices, as well as when and how much people eat. The involvement of the circadian system in disordered eating behavior, however, is less clear.

Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the new study being conducted at the Lindner Center of HOPE will look at the circadian function of 80 adults with obesity—40 who have been diagnosed with binge eating disorder, and 40 without—for 2 weeks. Participants will track their sleep and eating behavior and wear a device that tracks activity. Circadian phases will be assessed by identifying increases in melatonin concentrations when participants’ bodies shift into “night mode.”

The researchers will then test whether then can recalibrate the circadian system of patients diagnosed with binge eating disorder by using tabletop lamps to simulate morning light and administering a fixed dose of a melatonin supplement or placebo at night.

“Ultimately, we want to advance our understanding of the role of the circadian system in binge eating disorder, and this study will provide valuable insight on its potential as a new therapeutic target,” Romo-Nava said. “We’re excited about how this could positively impact patients with binge eating disorder in the future.”