night eating syndrome (NES)

Last edited 11/2020 and last reviewed 12/2020

Night eating syndrome (NES) was first described in 1955 as a disorder defined by morning anorexia, evening hyperphagia (consuming 25% of the daily food intake after the evening meal), and insomnia (1)

Research findings regarding the relationship between NES and BMI are mixed (2).

Night eating syndrome is prevalent among psychiatric outpatients and associated with depression, impulse control disorder, and nicotine dependency. Body dissatisfaction and higher symptom severity are also other risk factors for the development of NES (3).

Reference:

• Stunkard AJ, Grace WJ, Wolff HG. The night-eating syndrome: a pattern of food intake among certain obese patients. Am J Med. 1955;19:78–86
• Bruzas MJ, Alison KC. A Review of the Relationship between Night Eating Syndrome and Body Mass Index.Curr Obes Rep. 2019 Jun; 8(2): 145–155.
• Saracli O et al. The prevalence and clinical features of the night eating syndrome in psychiatric out-patient population. Compr Psychiatry 2015 Feb;57:79-84. doi: 0.1016/j.comppsych.2014.11.007. Epub 2014 Nov 20.