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Available Treatment Options for Night Eating Syndrome
Contributor: Leigh Bell, BA, writer for Eating Disorder Hope
Night-eating syndrome (NES) is a somewhat rare but debilitating illness characterized by eating the vast majority of calories in the late evening or throughout the night.
Treating NES
NES can be overcome with proper treatment, which typically incorporates cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, or psychodynamic therapy, and these are especially important for clients with high levels of stress, depression, or anxiety, according to a paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). [1]
Since the disorder was first described in 1950’s by Albert Stunkard, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania, NES hasn’t been clinically studied, but its estimated that about 1.5% of the general population has NES, and more than 25% in samples of severely obese people, according to the JAMA paper.
NES is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and classified under Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED). It is defined as “recurrent episodes of night eating; eating after awakening from sleep; or by excessive food consumption after the evening meal.”
Identifying NES
NES can be identified, among other methods, by a sleep study or the Night Eating Questionnaire, which is an efficient, valid measure of NES severity. [2] Once NES has been diagnosed, a variety of treatment approaches are available.
People develop night-eating for various reasons. It could be a habit developed rom many late-night or all-night work sessions that involved food. NES may also be the result of skipped or reduced meals during the day – for dieting or work purposes – that lead to nighttime overcompensation of missed calories.
Addressing these causes is a start in treating the illness.
It can help to “increase physical activity and follow a consistent exercise program, maintain a food diary, and keep records of bedtimes, awakening times, and thoughts about night eating is a good first step.” [3]
Research on the benefit of medications for NES is in its early stages; however, encouraging studies support the use of sertraline (Zoloft), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, as a well-tolerated drug that offers effective treatment. [4]
Community Discussion – Share our thoughts here!
Have you or your loved one sought treatment for Night Eating Syndrome? What type of treatment did you go through and what support groups were utilized in recovery?
About the Author: Leigh Bell holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in Creative Writing and French from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She is a published author, journalist with 15 years of experience, and a recipient of the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism. Leigh is recovered from a near-fatal, decade-long battle with anorexia and the mother of three young, rambunctious children.
References:
[1]: 1. Birketvedt G, Florholmen J, Sundsfjord J, et al. (1999). Behavioral and neuroendocrine characteristics of the night-eating syndrome. Journal of the American Medical Association, 282(7), 657-66.[2]: 2. Allison, K, Lundgren, J., O’Reardon, J., Martino, N., Sarwer, D., Wadden, T., Crosby, R., Stunkard, A. (2008). The Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ): Psychometric properties of a measure of severity of the Night Eating Syndrome. Eating Behaviors, 9(1), 62-72.
[3]: 3. January 2010 Issue. Night Eating Syndrome. By Cathy Leman, MA, RD, LD. Today’s Dietitian, Vol. 12 No. 1 P. 8
[4]: O’Reardon, J., Allison, K., Martino, N., et al. (2006) A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of sertraline in the treatment of night eating syndrome. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(5), 893-898.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on April 12, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
