You’ve probably heard of binge eating disorder and seen commercials about it during prime time television shows. This eating disorder, which affects up to 5 percent of American adults, involves binge eating large amounts of food in short periods of time with the inability to control your consumption or stop once you’ve started. Binge eaters will feel guilt after these episodes and are typically unhappy with their weight, but they may not be aware that they could have night eating syndrome instead. Night eating syndrome, which affects up to 3 percent of Americans, occurs primarily at night, which isn’t surprising considering its name.
What is Night Eating Syndrome (NES)?
Night eating syndrome is a condition characterized by recurrent episodes of binge-eating during the late evening to early morning hours. NES is not recognized in the DSM-IV or ICD-10 as an independent diagnosis, but some authorities include it in the category of other specified feeding and eating disorders. It may be related to sleep deprivation, depression, obesity, or stress-related eating patterns.
Merely reducing calories does not address the underlying problem; people with NES need behavioral counseling for assistance with stopping the behavior. Treatment may include medication for anxiety or depression and cognitive behavioral therapy which can help people stop their binges before they get out of control.
Sometimes doctors recommend taking melatonin supplements, a hormone made by the brain's pineal gland. Melatonin makes people feel sleepy and so reduces their urge to eat at night.
How Common is it?
It is estimated that 1-2% of people will experience N.E.S in their lifetime, which means it is more common than bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa combined. Experts believe the problem affects more women than men, but they don't know why. It is not clear how many people suffer from N.E.S., because many do not seek professional help for this condition or are not diagnosed by a health care professional.
Those who do often go through cycles where they abstain from food during the day, then eat compulsively during the evening hours. They may consume anything in sight - junk food, comfort foods, or even some meals - to compensate for what they missed earlier in the day.
There's no known cause for this syndrome, but experts say one contributing factor may be skipping breakfast (if you're feeling really hungry when you wake up). People with N.E.S can also have trouble regulating their emotions due to hunger, which can lead to bouts of depression or anxiety.
Who Is Affected by NES?
NES is more common among women than men and typically starts in the late teens or early twenties. NES sufferers report feeling hungry during the day but are unable to eat because of their fullness, often leading to overeating at night. What sets NES apart from other forms of binge eating is that it typically consists only of carbohydrates and sweets, not protein or fat, and it usually takes place before bedtime. People with NES can suffer from major health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Treatment for this disorder includes decreasing caloric intake during the daytime and scheduling a time for nighttime snacking. Drugs used to treat NES include serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which increase appetite suppressant serotonin levels. While SSRIs are effective against most of the symptoms, they have been shown to cause weight gain and have a high risk for addiction.
Consequently, this treatment should be used cautiously in patients who have depression or anxiety disorders. Two other drugs that may help decrease carbohydrate binges are topiramate, an antiepileptic drug which suppresses food cravings, and memantine hydrochloride, a drug currently approved by the FDA to manage Alzheimer's dementia. Patients also may benefit from talking therapy; cognitive behavioral therapy has been proven to reduce both the frequency of binges and feelings of guilt associated with them.
Can NES be treated?
NES can be treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and nutritional counseling. With CBT, people are taught how to recognize the thoughts and emotions that trigger their night eating episodes.
They then learn to replace these thoughts with healthier ones, which often reduces or eliminates their NES episodes. With nutritional counseling, a dietitian will teach them how to eat healthy while keeping them full and satiated throughout the day. There is also medication available to help curb urges for food late in the evening and early morning hours.
There is no cure for NES but it can be controlled through medications and behavioral therapies. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches people how to identify the thoughts and feelings that trigger their binging episodes. From there, they find ways to cope with those triggers and change their thought patterns so they do not have another episode.
The National Sleep Foundation states that insomnia should not be considered as a cause of Night Eating Syndrome because only one study has found an association between the two. Although some sleep specialists believe that poor sleep may worsen symptoms of NES, this connection has yet to be studied more thoroughly. To date, the best treatment for NES is education about the condition and possible treatments. Additionally, physicians may prescribe weight loss drugs if obesity is present.
Conclusion
Night eating syndrome is a serious condition and should not be taken lightly. If you are experiencing symptoms, it is important to seek treatment in order to regain control of your body and mind. It may take some time to adjust your sleeping schedule or the way you eat during the day.
2) In terms of prevention, it’s best to sleep 7-9 hours each night and eat breakfast every morning so that hunger won’t lead to excessive nighttime snacking. 3) Be careful about going to bed too hungry, as this will likely cause an episode of overeating. 4) Limit high calorie foods such as sweets and fried food before bedtime; instead try lighter fare like soups, salads or fruit. 5) Exercise can also help curb cravings for high-calorie snacks by boosting energy levels. 6) Identify the triggers which lead to bouts of night eating, such as stress from work or relationship problems. 7) Get more support through joining a weight loss support group, speaking with a counselor, reading self-help books on dieting and/or watching motivational videos online. 8) Try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, guided imagery therapy and visualization therapy.
