What Is Night Eating Syndrome?
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8 September 2025
Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is a disorder characterized by a pattern of excessive eating during the night, often accompanied by disrupted sleep and emotional distress
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NES involves consuming a significant portion of daily calories after the evening meal, typically at night, with episodes of overeating or grazing
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Individuals experience evening hyperphagia (eating at least 25% of daily calories after dinner) and/or nocturnal ingestions (eating during awakenings at night)
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People with NES often wake up multiple times at night feeling compelled to eat, unable to return to sleep without food
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A common feature is reduced appetite or skipping breakfast, with little to no hunger in the morning
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NES is often linked to stress, anxiety, or depression, with eating used as a coping mechanism during nighttime hours
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Unlike sleep-related eating disorders, individuals with NES are fully aware of their nighttime eating episodes
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It can lead to weight gain, obesity, poor sleep quality, and increased risk of metabolic issues like diabetes
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NES is diagnosed based on specific criteria, including evening/night eating patterns, distress, and ruling out other disorders like binge eating or sleep disorders
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Management includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), addressing underlying stress or mood disorders, nutritional counseling, and sometimes medication like SSRIs
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