Get the facts on night eating syndrome, an often under-recognized disorder affecting 1.5% of adults in the US. Learn how it impacts your health and find out how you can get help to manage it.
The hours between dinner and bedtime are notorious for many people's food cravings and mindless snacking. Who doesn’t crave something sweet or salty after dinner every once in a while? But for some, night eating is more than occasionally overeating. It’s an actual medical disorder called night eating syndrome (NES).
NES affects around 1.5 percent of US adults (although some research suggests this number could be even higher).¹ ² In this article, you’ll learn what night eating syndrome is, how it can impact your health, and how to find support.
NES is an eating disorder characterized by excess nighttime food intake. People with NES eat most of their calories—at least 25 percent—after dinner and in the hours leading up to bedtime. They may even wake up to eat in the middle of the night before going back to sleep.¹
People with NES are more likely to struggle with weight concerns or have a history of disordered eating and food restrictions, although not everyone with NES is overweight.³NES is often seen with other eating disorders and can have overlapping symptoms. Still, it’s not the same as two seemingly similar conditions: binge eating disorder (BED) or sleep-related eating disorder (SRED).
BED is characterized by episodes of eating large amounts of food in one sitting, followed by feelings of guilt or shame. With NES, calorie intake is spread throughout the evening or night. Someone with NES may binge and eat a lot at once, but not always. That said, there is a lot of overlap between BED and NES. It’s estimated that between 18 and 50 percent of people with BED also meet the criteria for NES.²
SRED is a nocturnal eating disorder where someone wakes to eat in the middle of the night but doesn’t remember doing so. It’s not uncommon for someone with SRED to wake up with wrappers or food by the bedside and no recollection of eating. People with NES will remember when and what they ate (and often feel shame or guilt).⁴
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At least three of the following symptoms are and are needed to diagnose NES:¹ ²
Shame, guilt, or remorse often accompanies NES, where someone feels helpless to control their eating habits or make changes. Secret eating or hiding evidence of nighttime eating is also common.
The causes of night eating syndrome aren’t entirely understood, but the following factors may play a role:
As with any situation where overeating is a concern, NES could impact health beyond nighttime binges. Research suggests that people who eat more calories at night are at a higher risk for developing metabolic health conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, or heart disease.⁹
Part of this relationship is once again related to natural circadian rhythms in the body. The body is generally better equipped to process food when you’re more active, so you’re more insulin sensitive in the morning. Insulin is the hormone that helps your body process, use, or store glucose (aka sugar) from food. As the day goes on, your body’s sensitivity to insulin decreases, which could impact blood sugar and fat metabolism.¹⁰
Sleep disruptions are also linked to metabolic health problems. Studies on night shift workers, who typically eat later at night and have irregular sleep cycles, suggest that night eating could disrupt natural circadian rhythms. Those disruptions can lead to higher rates of metabolic syndrome linked to chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and strokes.¹¹
A healthcare provider diagnoses NES, so you must reach out to your primary care doctor if you are concerned about yourself or someone you love. Symptoms must be present for at least three months for an NES diagnosis.²
Providers may use validated questionnaires analyzing some of the symptoms listed above and such as the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), the Night Eating Diagnostic Scale (NEDS), or the Night Eating Symptom Scale (NESS). These tools ask questions about eating behavior to determine if night eating is a problem.²
NES is a listed condition under “Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED)” in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition” (DSM-5). The DSM-5 is used for diagnosing mental health conditions and classifying symptoms.²
Given NES isn’t just about food, taking steps to manage your stress and emotions can help. Here are some tips that may help night eaters reduce nighttime binges:
NES is complex, so seeking professional help to identify the underlying causes and develop an effective treatment plan is important. If you struggle with night eating syndrome, nutrition counseling can help you develop healthier eating habits and make positive lifestyle changes.
As you make changes, using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) paired with Signos’ personalized real-time feedback can show you exactly what’s happening in your body when you eat more at night. Seeing your blood sugar response can motivate you to make positive changes.
With Signos, you get insight into your nutrition choices and behaviors that can help you learn more about your body. Find out if Signos is a good fit by taking a quick quiz here.
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