Night eating syndrome: causes, symptoms, and treatment
What is night eating syndrome?
Night eating syndrome (NES) is a condition that causes people to wake up during the night and eat. People with NES often have trouble sleeping and may feel agitated, depressed, or anxious. They may also have trouble concentrating during the day.
NES is not the same as sleepwalking or sleep eating. People with NES are aware of what they are doing and often feel compelled to eat even when they are not hungry.
What causes night eating syndrome?
The exact cause of NES is unknown. However, it is thought to be related to disruptions in the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. This cycle is regulated by a hormone called melatonin.
NES may also be associated with other conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and binge eating disorder.
What are the symptoms of night eating syndrome?
People with NES may eat large amounts of food late at night or wake up multiple times to eat. They may feel that they cannot control their eating or may be ashamed of their behavior.
People with NES often have trouble sleeping and may feel tired during the day. They may also have trouble concentrating or perform poorly at work or school.
NES is associated with a number of other health problems, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
How is night eating syndrome treated?
NES is often treated with a combination of therapy and medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that can help people change their thoughts and behaviors. CBT for NES often includes education about healthy eating, developing a regular sleep schedule, and learning how to cope with stress.
Medications that are sometimes used to treat NES include antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers.
What can I do to help someone with night eating syndrome?
If you think someone you know has NES, talk to them about your concerns. NES can be a difficult condition to manage on one’s own, so it’s important to seek professional help.
You can also offer your support by helping the person create a healthy sleep schedule and eat regular, balanced meals during the day.Learn more
The challenges of getting an accurate diagnosis of night eating syndrome
A person with night eating syndrome (NES) typically feels the need to eat large amounts of food late at night, often after waking up from sleep. This can cause weight gain and other health problems.
NES is a relatively new disorder and is not well understood. As a result, there is no one definitive test for it. This can make getting an accurate diagnosis challenging.
There are a number of different ways that NES can be diagnosed. One is through interviews with the person suspected of having NES and their family members or friends. This can help to identify patterns of late-night eating and other associated behaviors.
Another method is to keep a food and sleep diary. This can help to track when eating and sleeping patterns vary from the norm.
NES can also be diagnosed with the help of a sleep study. This involves staying overnight in a sleep lab and being monitored for sleep patterns and eating behaviors.
Once NES has been diagnosed, there are a number of treatment options available. These can include lifestyle changes, such as eating regular meals during the day and avoiding late-night eating. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can also be helpful in managing the disorder.
NES is a serious disorder that can have a significant impact on a person’s health. If you think you may have NES, it is important to talk to your doctor so that you can get the proper diagnosis and treatment.
Visit mengeredstoo.co.uk to learn more about night eating syndrome. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.