Related Experiment Videos
The night eating syndrome: a progress report
Albert J Stunkard1, Kelly C Allison, John P O'Reardon
1Weight and Eating Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. stunkard@mail.med.upenn.edu
Appetite
|June 22, 2005
Summary
Night eating syndrome (NES) involves delayed eating patterns disrupting sleep, with individuals consuming most calories after dinner and waking to eat. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors show promise for treating NES, but more research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Medicine
- Eating Disorders
- Chronobiology
Background:
- Night eating syndrome (NES) is characterized by delayed circadian eating patterns.
- Individuals with NES consume a significant portion of daily calories after their evening meal and frequently wake to eat.
- Sleep cycle timing (bedtime, wake time) appears normal in NES patients, suggesting eating rhythm disruption may cause sleep disturbances.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between delayed eating patterns and sleep disruption in night eating syndrome.
- To explore potential therapeutic interventions for NES.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies on NES, including case studies and open-label trials.
- Analysis of eating patterns and sleep cycle timing in individuals with NES compared to control groups.
Main Results:
- NES is associated with significant caloric intake post-evening meal and nocturnal awakenings for eating.
- Despite disrupted eating rhythms, sleep cycle timing remains phase-appropriate.
- Preliminary evidence from a case study and an open-label trial suggests SSRIs may effectively treat NES.
Conclusions:
- Delayed eating rhythms in NES may secondarily disrupt sleep.
- SSRIs show potential as a treatment for night eating syndrome.
- Further randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm the efficacy of SSRIs for NES.