Understanding Night Eating Syndrome: What's it called when you only eat at night?

November 1, 2025 •

3 min read

Affecting an estimated 1.5% of the general population, Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is a real and complex condition. So, what's it called when you only eat at night? This article explains the clinical definition, symptoms, and impacts of this unique eating and sleep disorder.

Quick Summary

Night Eating Syndrome (NES) involves eating after dinner or during nocturnal awakenings, coupled with insomnia and mood issues, causing significant distress.

Key Points

Understanding NES: Night Eating Syndrome is a recognized eating disorder involving eating a large percentage of daily calories after dinner or during nighttime awakenings.
Conscious Awareness: A key differentiator is that individuals with NES are fully conscious and aware of their eating behavior, unlike those with Sleep-Related Eating Disorder (SRED).
Root Causes: NES is not a simple lack of willpower; it is often linked to circadian rhythm disruptions, stress, hormonal imbalances, and other mental health conditions.
Associated Risks: The health risks of NES include weight gain, metabolic issues like diabetes, and worsening mental health, including depression and anxiety.
Effective Treatment: A combination of therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy, medication (like SSRIs), and nutritional counseling, is often used to treat NES.
Distinguishing SRED: While NES involves conscious eating, SRED occurs in a semi-conscious state, with sufferers often having amnesia for the episode.

Night Eating Syndrome (NES): More Than Just a Bad Habit

While many people occasionally grab a late-night snack, Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is a recognized eating disorder characterized by a distinct pattern of eating, sleep, and mood disturbances. It is not merely a lack of willpower, but a complex issue with biological and psychological components. NES often goes undiagnosed due to feelings of shame or the belief that it's a lack of self-control.

NES involves consuming a significant portion of daily calories after the evening meal or waking up to eat at night. Unlike some other eating disorders, individuals with NES are fully aware and can recall their nocturnal eating episodes.

Core Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria

A diagnosis of Night Eating Syndrome requires a pattern of eating after dinner or during nocturnal awakenings, causing significant distress for at least three months. Key indicators include:

Morning Anorexia: Reduced appetite in the morning.
Evening Hyperphagia: Consuming over 25% of daily calories between dinner and bedtime.
Sleep Disturbance: Insomnia four or more nights weekly.
Evening Mood Worsening: Increased depression, anxiety, or irritability in the evening.
Belief That Eating Is Necessary for Sleep: A strong urge to eat to fall back asleep after waking.

Causes and Risk Factors

NES is believed to stem from a combination of psychological, neurological, and hormonal factors, with disruptions to the circadian rhythm being a strong contributor. Contributing factors include stress, circadian rhythm dysregulation, hormonal imbalances, other mental health conditions, daytime dieting, and genetics.

Night Eating Syndrome vs. Sleep-Related Eating Disorder

It is important to differentiate NES from Sleep-Related Eating Disorder (SRED). While both involve nighttime eating, the level of awareness is the primary distinction. SRED is a parasomnia, while NES is an eating disorder.


Feature	Night Eating Syndrome (NES)	Sleep-Related Eating Disorder (SRED)
Awareness of Eating	Fully conscious and aware of the eating episode.	Impaired or complete lack of awareness; often have amnesia for the event.
Control over Eating	Compulsive and difficult to suppress, but the person is conscious.	Involuntary and often described as occurring in a semi-sleep or sleepwalking state.
Primary Association	Closely linked to mood disorders like depression and anxiety.	Classified as a parasomnia, often associated with other sleep disorders like sleepwalking.
Food Choices	Typically consists of high-calorie, sugary, or carbohydrate-rich foods.	May involve consuming unusual food combinations or even inedible substances.

Health Risks and Complications

Untreated NES can lead to physical and psychological complications, impacting overall health. Risks include weight gain and obesity, metabolic issues like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular problems, digestive discomfort, and worsening mental health.

Effective Treatment and Management Strategies

A multi-faceted approach involving healthcare providers, including mental health professionals and nutritionists, is often most effective for NES. Strategies include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address thoughts and behaviors, pharmacotherapy like SSRIs to regulate mood and appetite, light therapy to reset the body clock, nutritional counseling for structured meal plans, and stress management techniques. Establishing a relaxing nighttime routine without snacking can also help.

Conclusion

Night Eating Syndrome is a treatable condition stemming from a complex interplay of factors. Recognizing key symptoms—evening hyperphagia, insomnia, and nocturnal depressed mood—is crucial. With professional help and a combination of therapeutic strategies, individuals can manage symptoms, regain control, and improve their health and well-being. Addressing NES is important for managing weight, improving sleep, and enhancing mental health. More information on managing the psychological aspects of eating disorders can be found through resources like the National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main symptoms include evening hyperphagia (eating over 25% of daily calories after dinner), a suppressed morning appetite, sleep problems, a depressive mood that worsens in the evening, and a strong urge to eat to fall asleep.

No. The main difference is the level of awareness. In NES, a person is fully awake and conscious while eating. In SRED, eating occurs during a semi-conscious or sleepwalking state, and the person may have no memory of it.

NES is thought to be caused by a combination of factors, including disruptions to the body’s circadian rhythm, stress, hormonal imbalances, genetics, and other co-occurring mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

Yes, chronic NES can lead to health complications such as obesity, type 2 diabetes due to poor glucose metabolism, high blood pressure, and heart disease. It also causes significant mental distress.

Treatment often involves a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which addresses eating and sleep habits, antidepressant medications (SSRIs), light therapy to reset the body clock, and nutritional counseling.

The key is the pattern and associated distress. If you regularly consume a large amount of your daily calories at night, struggle with insomnia related to eating, and feel distress, shame, or lack of control, it may indicate NES rather than a simple habit.

Yes, stress is a significant trigger for NES symptoms. Managing stress through relaxation techniques, meditation, or therapy can help break the cycle and reduce the urge to eat at night.