What is night eating syndrome?
Night eating syndrome is one of the lesser-discussed eating disorders, but it's relatively common, impacting as many as one in ten people in the United States by some estimates.1
Individuals with night eating syndrome eat at least 25% of their daily food intake at night and wake up during the night to eat, sometimes doing this several times a night.1 For this reason, many people don’t feel hungry again until the afternoon.1 The condition is closely tied to insomnia and circadian rhythm disorders and is often associated with other mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.
It also shares some characteristics with other eating disorders, such as binge eating disorder, including feelings of guilt and shame around eating behaviors and frequent dieting.1 Taking a night eating syndrome quiz or speaking with your primary care physician can help you better understand what NES entails and whether you're showcasing symptoms of night eating syndrome.
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Physical symptoms of night eating syndrome
Because the behaviors involved with night eating syndrome happen when most people are sleeping, it may be difficult to tell if someone is struggling with the condition. But there are some physical night eating syndrome symptoms that may be detectable.
Weight gain or weight fluctuation
Hyperphagia, or an intense sensation of hunger, is common in NES.
2 It often leads individuals with NES to eat large quantities of food at night, almost similar to
binge eating. These types of disordered eating patterns can lead to weight gain.
Still, those with NES also frequently engage in dieting behavior.
1 Overall, this can lead to frequent weight fluctuation.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a common symptom of individuals with NES, which can happen for many reasons.
Many people with the condition have co-occurring mood disorders, including depression and anxiety, which may contribute to feelings of fatigue.1 NES also involves a disrupted sleeping pattern, which can easily create feelings of exhaustion. The disordered eating behaviors involved with the condition may also cause someone to feel tired.
Gastrointestinal problems
Many eating disorders are associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, heartburn, gas, and bloating.4 People with NES may experience these issues due to the amount of food they eat at night and the fact that they digest much of that food while sleeping.2
Emotional and behavioral symptoms of night eating syndrome
Like all eating disorders, NES is primarily driven by mental health concerns. This can contribute to some related emotional and behavioral night eating disorder symptoms.
Co-occurring mood disorders
Night eating syndrome has been closely tied to
several mood disorders, including depression and anxiety.
2 In fact, some research has connected the onset of night eating syndrome symptoms directly to depression, with people attempting to alleviate these negative feelings through nighttime eating.
2
People living with NES tend to experience high anxiety levels.
3 Again, this can work to both trigger and maintain the disordered eating patterns involved. Anxiety and anxious feelings have been attached to the idea that someone can not go back to sleep at night without eating.
2 And, as with most other eating disorders, the disordered eating patterns involved can also arise as maladaptive coping mechanisms to stress.
Frequent dieting behavior
Dieting behavior is another common connection to NES. Often, these people will work hard to limit their food intake during the day, which is part of the reason why they eat so much at night.2
A person with NES may go most of the day without eating, but when they do start, they'll eat a lot very rapidly. They may feel guilty about this eating behavior and attempt to hide evidence, such as food wrappers or empty containers.
When to get help for night eating syndrome
It's never too early for a person with NES to seek help—and treatment of night eating syndrome is available. If you or a loved one are experiencing night eating syndrome symptoms or have gotten positive results on a night eating syndrome quiz, it's likely time to seek out help.
Help is available
It can be challenging to find support from treatment providers for eating disorders, especially providers who fully understand the many nuances of disordered eating.
At Within, we have created a virtual program for anyone struggling with an eating disorder. Our clinical care team will work with you to overcome night eating disorder or any other disordered eating habits.
Call for a free consultation
If you or someone you know shows signs and symptoms of NES, Within Health is here to help. Our team of caring professionals is ready to provide compassionate treatment for NES. Please contact our admission team today to learn how to start building a healthy relationship with food and your body.
