Night Eating Syndrome Treatment

We often see NES at EDRS as a side effect from another, more dominant eating disorder. Upon admission, our team will establish medical stability. Learning more about the prevalence and onset of NES symptoms helps with next steps. 

As is the case with many of our clients, we recommend nutrition therapy and a meal plan. This helps lay the groundwork for psychology work. With most night eating syndrome treatment, our therapists will use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This helps to learn more about food patterns, sleep patterns, and day-to-day life. 

One of the best ways to start treating NES is to regulate sleep cycle. Clients suffering from NES who don’t wake up later in the day and are full from the night before find themselves trapped in a cycle. It’s often perpetuated by disoriented circadian rhythms. Maintaining a proper bedtime, coupled with an outlined meal plan, allows clients to reset into natural patterns. 

With a deep reset of sleep patterns, therapists are then able to expose the cracks in the foundation. This helps start NES treatment on the primary causes of the disorder.

If you find yourself trapped in a pattern of exhaustion and insomnia because of eating, contact our admissions team today.

Night Eating Syndrome Screening Questions

• Do you frequently eat after dinner or during the night?
• How often do you wake up during the night to eat or snack?
• When you wake up to eat, are you fully awake and aware of what you’re eating?
• Do you find it hard to fall back asleep unless you’ve eaten something?
• How much of your total daily food intake do you estimate happens after dinner? (For example, more than 25%?)

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, contact our admissions team today for a full assessment. Help is available and you’re not alone.

NES Medical Complications:

• Weight and metabolic issues: Obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome
• Cardiovascular risk: Hypertension and increased risk of heart disease
• Sleep and hormonal disruptions: Fragmented sleep, altered circadian rhythm, reduced melatonin, and fatigue
• Digestive and dental problems: Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), bloating, and dental cavities/erosion
• Long-term health risks: Chronic inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and decreased overall quality of life

Issues from NES arise mainly from the stress and fatigue on the body. This comes from the combination of bingeing and lack of sleep. If not addressed, the physical side effects of NES can worsen and lead to long-term health risks. If you believe you could benefit from night eating syndrome treatment, speak with admissions today. You can begin work on repairing your circadian rhythm and meal routines.

Prevalence (Science Direct)

• General population: Approximately 1–2%. 
• Binge Eating Disorder (BED) Patients: Around 35%.
• Bulimia Nervosa (BN) patients: Approximately 52%.

NES often occurs alongside another binge/purge disorder. It develops as an unwanted side effect. Have you already been struggling with another disorder and struggle sleeping, speak with your therapist or reach out to admissions today. 

Psychological and Co-Occurring NES Factors:

• Depression (major depressive disorder is common)
• Anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety and social anxiety)
• Binge Eating Disorder (BED) or other eating disorders
• Sleep disorders (insomnia, delayed sleep phase, and sleep fragmentation)
• Stress and poor coping mechanisms
• Obsessive-compulsive tendencies or perfectionism
• Low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction
• Emotional dysregulation (difficulty managing negative emotions)
• Substance use or alcohol use in some cases
• Seasonal affective patterns (evening hyperphagia may worsen in winter)

Due to the physical toll of not sleeping, NES can worsen co-occurring psychological disorders. It’s important to regain control of your sleep cycle to treat underlying conditions. Help is available, click here to call admissions.

NES Risk Factors:

• Obesity or a history of weight gain
• Other eating disorders (e.g., Binge Eating Disorder, and Bulimia Nervosa)
• Depression or other mood disorders
• Chronic stress or poor stress coping mechanisms
• Sleep disturbances (insomnia, delayed sleep phase, and disrupted circadian rhythm)
• Family history of NES or other eating disorders
• Evening chronotype (naturally preferring late-night activity)
• Trauma or adverse life experiences
• Nighttime shift work or irregular schedules

This eating disorder can occur for many reasons. When looking for night eating syndrome treatment, discuss risk factors with your therapist. Your treatment team can help you learn more about why the condition is affecting you and take appropriate action. Our admissions team is here to help with any questions, reach out today.