what is the night eating syndrome?  

Night Eating Syndrome is an eating disorder and also called a sleeping disorder, which affects 1 to 2 % of the population. Night Eating Syndrome is an ongoing, persistent behavior, unlike the occasional late snack or skipped meal that most people have from time to time. In fact, people with this disorder are often unaware of their nocturnal meals, although some feel they won't be able to sleep without eating first. Among those who are aware of their night eating, there is often an emotional component; the diet of the night eater is comfort food.

Answered by cuteguy , an ibibo Master, at 2:04 AM on December 15, 2007

Night Eating Syndrome is a disorder where the affected individual wakes multiple times during the night and is unable to fall back asleep unless they eat something. Foods eaten during the binge are often high caloric in content and unhealthy. The night eating behavior seems totally beyond the effected individual's control. For these individuals, 35% or more of their calories are eaten after dinnertime. Following the night binge, the person is often not hungry in the morning. Individuals suffering from Night Eating Syndrome are often caught in the vicious cycle of binge eating during the night and eating less during the day. Triggers for Night Eating Syndrome include depression, anxiety, interpersonal stressors, boredom, prolonged dieting, and body image dissatisfaction. Night eating may temporarily relieve the stress of these unwanted feelings, but for the night eater these episodes are unfortunately followed by feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and further depression. For the person suffering from Night Eating Syndrome, the eating episodes usually occur in secret and any evidence is often hidden from others. Similar to Anorexics, Bulimics, and Compulsive Overeaters, individuals suffering from Night Eating Syndrome are often struggling and unhappy with their weight. It is estimated that up to one percent of the population may be suffering from Night Eating Syndrome. Like Anorexia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa, and Compulsive Overeating, Night Eating Syndrome is a disease and cannot be cured with willpower alone.

Answered by deep , an ibibo Master, at 11:37 AM on December 15, 2007

Hey KK it's lovey question answer for me as we know Night-eating syndrome shows distinctive changes in hormones related to sleep, hunger & stress. The nighttime rise in the hormone that accompanies sleep, melatonin, is greatly decreased in night eaters, probably contributing to their sleep disturbances. Similarly, night-eaters fail to show a nighttime rise in the hormone leptin, which suppresses hunger & the stress hormone cortisol is elevated throughout a 24-hour period. Night-eating syndrome is believed to occur in 10% of obese people seeking treatment for their obesity, which means about 10 million people may be affected. It also does occur among people of normal weight, although less frequently. “Night-eating syndrome may represent a special kind of response to stress that afflicts certain vulnerable people,” said Stunkard. Night-eating syndrome appears to differ from bulimia nervosa & binge eating. Instead of very large & infrequent binges, persons with this disorder consume relatively small snacks at night-about 270 calories-but far more frequently. In addition, their sleep is far more disturbed. Treatment & Prevention Therapy to increase the natural nocturnal rise in melatonin, reduce the body's adrenal stress response and raise leptin levels or improve leptin sensitivity are options that may help these patients overcome the disorder. Another key may involve the availability of tryptophan, an important amino acid, in the body. More than 70% of the nighttime eating to combat anxiety involved binging on carbohydrates. These foods are believed to increase the amount of tryptophan available for conversion to serotonin, the calming neurotransmitter in the brain that promotes an overall sense of well-being and, in turn, converts to melatonin.

Answered by satya , an ibibo Master, at 12:19 PM on December 15, 2007

Night eating syndrome is an eating disorder. It is also characterized as a sleeping disorder. Night Eating Syndrome is often accompanied by or confused with sleep-related eating disorder, although the two are distinct.

Answered by Meera , an ibibo Master, at 2:47 PM on December 15, 2007

A relatively new eating disorder, “night-eating syndrome,” characterized by a lack of appetite in the morning & overeating at night with agitation & insomnia. Night-eating syndrome has not yet been formally defined as an eating disorder. Underlying causes are being identified, and treatment plans are still being developed. It seems likely that a combination of biological, genetic, and emotional factors contribute to the problem

Answered by deepa , an ibibo Advisor, at 3:31 PM on December 15, 2007