Eating - Are You Out of Control at Night?

We've all spent time in a darkened kitchen staring into the fridge. For most of us, snacking late at night is less about hunger and more about boredom or habit.

But, for some, eating late at night is a problem. Believe it or not, there's actually a syndrome for out-of-control late-night eating. Then again, there's a syndrome for just about everything. It's appropriately called night eating syndrome (NES). For those who battle the issue, it's no laughing matter.

NES affects both people who are obese and those at a normal weight. A hormone is the suspected culprit behind this syndrome that affects four million Americans. If you just have nighttime munchies, then you likely don't have NES. If, however, you consume at least 35 percent of your calories late at night and it's becoming an issue for you, talk to your doctor.