Night Eating Syndrome (NES)

What is Night Eating Syndrome?

Foods eaten during the night time binges are often unhealthy in content; after night binges the individual is usually not hungry in the morning. Night eating syndrome is thus is not only an eating disorder but also a disorder of mood and also sleep. Most would feel that NES sufferers are merely indulging in unhealthy eating habits, however it is a clinical illness induced by changes in hormone levels.

Two conditions involved in this eating disorder, morning anorexia and evening hyperphagia, are attempts to control weight. The hyperphagia (increased appetite for food) is in most cases due to a 'defect' or injury to the hypothalamus (part of brain that controls hunger and feeling of fullness). Insomnia is believed to be due to a decrease in melatonin which is a hormone that accompanies sleep in most cases.

There is a vast difference between night eating and bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder. People with night eating syndrome consume relatively small snacks throughout the evening/night, with high calorie content. Bulimics and binge eaters consume vast quantities of food in one sitting (more than average people do in a day in the space of 2 hours).

Night eating syndrome, signs and symptoms;

The individual has an absence of appetite for breakfast. Delay of first meal for several hours after waking up. Is not hungry or is upset about how much was eaten the night before.Often consumes more food after dinner than during that meal.Consumes more than 50% daily food intake after dinner and before breakfast.Commonly get up in the night to snack.Patterns persisted for at least two months.The individual often feels tense, anxious, upset, or guilty while eating.Feelings of stress and is often accompanied by depression. Especially at night, the person may be moody, tense, anxious, nervous, and agitated.Often has great trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Foods eaten are often high in carbohydrates: sugary and starch.The Behaviour is dissimilar to binge eating (which is done in relatively discrete time frames). Night-eating syndrome involves continual eating throughout evening hours.Eating habits causes one to feel intense guilt and shame.

Night-eating syndrome is believed to be prevalent in 10% of obese people whom are seeking treatment for their obesity. This is approximately 10 million people may be affected by NES. It does however occur among people of normal weight, although it is less common.

People with this syndrome start with morning anorexia (not eating all morning or consuming fewer than normal calories throughout the day), however as the day continues, mood worsens and they often become more depressed. When evening arrives, the individual often increases food consumption, sometimes up to four times a night. As the anxiety and depression increases the food consumption also increases. Snacking may be a method for individuals to cope with anxiety or depression. Carbohydrate foods are known for enhancing the activity of serotonin (neuro-transmitter in the brain, responsible for mood), ingesting such foods can decrease feelings of anxiety temporarily. Serotonin activation also leads to sleep, thus another reason for such food cravings from the body.

Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is a condition first described in 1955 and is characterized by; a lack of appetite for breakfast sometimes anorexic behaviours throughout the day, the consumption of sometimes more than half of daily calories in the evening, waking up, at least, once a night to consume high calorie (often carbohydrate) and insomnia.

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