Night Eating - Bad Habit or Disorder That Can Cause Weight Gain?
Posted on Jun 11th 2009 2:00PM by Mary KearlFiled Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
Kelly Allison, Ph.D., co-author of "Overcoming Night Eating Syndrome"
That's Fit: Can you describe some of the clear signs and of having "Night Eating Syndrome" (NES) versus just having late-night munchies every so often?
Allison: Most people have some sort of snack in the evenings, but the difference is that, with NES, the eating is usually related to eating in order to fall asleep, and it usually affects the level of hunger during the first half of the day. NES is a disorder characterized [by] consuming more than a quarter of daily [food] intake after dinner and/or waking up at night to eat at least twice per week. People who have NES usually have little hunger in the first half of the day. They begin eating more as the day goes on and, after a while, feel resigned to the fact that they will eat more than they want to in the evening. When people are waking up [in the middle of the night] to eat, they usually do so about an hour or two after falling asleep. After a while it becomes "automatic," where they feel drawn to eat as soon as they wake up.
That's Fit: Can you describe some of the clear signs and of having "Night Eating Syndrome" (NES) versus just having late-night munchies every so often?
Allison: Most people have some sort of snack in the evenings, but the difference is that, with NES, the eating is usually related to eating in order to fall asleep, and it usually affects the level of hunger during the first half of the day. NES is a disorder characterized [by] consuming more than a quarter of daily [food] intake after dinner and/or waking up at night to eat at least twice per week. People who have NES usually have little hunger in the first half of the day. They begin eating more as the day goes on and, after a while, feel resigned to the fact that they will eat more than they want to in the evening. When people are waking up [in the middle of the night] to eat, they usually do so about an hour or two after falling asleep. After a while it becomes "automatic," where they feel drawn to eat as soon as they wake up.
That's Fit: What are some of the long-term and short-term impacts of having NES?
Allison: Most sufferers complain of weight gain as the biggest impact of NES. [Trouble sleeping] is also an issue. Eating is typically the best sleep aid these individuals have known, so taking away the night-time eating can make insomnia worse, at least for a while. Some of them will never fully sleep through the night, even with treatment. Night eating can also put a strain on marital or roommate relationships. Many times persons with NES feel out of control during the night and will eat their children's school snacks or their roommate's food items.
That's Fit: When does late-night snacking become a pattern, a harmful one? Can it be treated?
Allison: It is hard to know when that threshold is crossed. Every individual will differ. Some people enjoy getting up to have a bowl of ice cream every night, but for others, it interferes with their weight-control goals and leaves them feeling fatigued and guilty. If you are feeling like you need to eat to fall asleep initially or when you wake up in the middle of the night and do not feel that you can stop it on your own, you may find it helpful to speak to a professional.
We have tested some medications for treating NES. Sertraline (brand name, Zoloft) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that was effective in 70 percent of those who took it in reducing their night-eating symptoms significantly. Certainly, not everyone responds the same to medications. No other medications have been tested in randomized-controlled trials, but other agents that have been used to treat binge-eating disorder are also of interest in treating NES. Here [at the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine] we have also developed a cognitive behavior therapy program to treat NES. Preliminary studies show a significant effect on reducing the nocturnal ingestions. Unfortunately, like most types of disordered eating or mood disorders, it is often the case that symptoms recur once medication is discontinued or if old habits resurface, particularly during periods of stress. We also know that taking sleeping pills often worsens NES, in that people feel groggier and have less control of their nighttime eating, but they still get up to eat.
