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Night Eaters
KarenZen
Posts: 1,430 Member
How many of you consume most of your calories at night? Do you hate eating breakfast? Can you go all day without eating? Do you have trouble going to sleep because you are hungry and thinking about food? Have you ever been diagnosed with night eating syndrome?
I'm just curious. I've struggled to control my night eating/binge eating and have done a lot of reading (of course!) on NES. Latest research actually identified a gene mutation that causes the behavior. This is a huge breakthrough!
Here's a summary of the research (from the Examiner):
Individuals suffering from night eating syndrome often consume the majority of their daily calories at night, and have a hard time avoiding hunger before bed.
Researchers have now shown that there is such a thing as a “night munchies” mutated gene that leads to a grating need for a midnight snack before bed.
This is the first time that the gene, known as PER1, has been linked to night eating syndrome (NES). NES involves a constant feeling of hunger at night, which can lead to overeating and weight gain. Research has linked it to more serious mental disorders as well as eating disorders; people who suffer from NES consume most of their caloric intake after 6 p.m. These individuals often feel as though they lack control over what and when they eat, then proceed to feel guilty after their binge. The National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) notes that NES affects about one to two percent of the U.S. population, both men and women.
In the study, researchers tested mice with the human genes of PER1 and PER2, which had previously been associated with sleep problems. When the researchers deactivated PER1, the eating behaviors of the mice became disrupted; they were prone to start eating instead of sleeping. The mice with the faulty PER1 gene gained weight due to these eating habits, until the researchers began monitoring their meals and feeding them only during the day, which led them to maintain normal weights. This shows that the weight gain was directly related to the night eating.
“For a long time, people discounted night eating syndrome as not real,” Dr. Satchidananda Panda of the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, said in a press release. “These results in mice suggest that it could actually be a genetic basis for the syndrome. We really never expected that we would be able to decouple the sleep-wake cycle and the eating cycle, especially with a simple mutation. It opens up a whole lot of future questions about how these cycles are regulated.” The researchers have yet to test whether humans with NES have any PER1 mutations.
When the gene is mutated, sleep and eating cycles are thrown off, which could potentially make it much easier for people to crave calories before bed. Sufferers of NES typically don’t eat much in the morning or during the day, proceed to overeat at night, and then rely on food when they wake up during the night in order to fall back asleep.
I'm just curious. I've struggled to control my night eating/binge eating and have done a lot of reading (of course!) on NES. Latest research actually identified a gene mutation that causes the behavior. This is a huge breakthrough!
Here's a summary of the research (from the Examiner):
Individuals suffering from night eating syndrome often consume the majority of their daily calories at night, and have a hard time avoiding hunger before bed.
Researchers have now shown that there is such a thing as a “night munchies” mutated gene that leads to a grating need for a midnight snack before bed.
This is the first time that the gene, known as PER1, has been linked to night eating syndrome (NES). NES involves a constant feeling of hunger at night, which can lead to overeating and weight gain. Research has linked it to more serious mental disorders as well as eating disorders; people who suffer from NES consume most of their caloric intake after 6 p.m. These individuals often feel as though they lack control over what and when they eat, then proceed to feel guilty after their binge. The National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) notes that NES affects about one to two percent of the U.S. population, both men and women.
In the study, researchers tested mice with the human genes of PER1 and PER2, which had previously been associated with sleep problems. When the researchers deactivated PER1, the eating behaviors of the mice became disrupted; they were prone to start eating instead of sleeping. The mice with the faulty PER1 gene gained weight due to these eating habits, until the researchers began monitoring their meals and feeding them only during the day, which led them to maintain normal weights. This shows that the weight gain was directly related to the night eating.
“For a long time, people discounted night eating syndrome as not real,” Dr. Satchidananda Panda of the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, said in a press release. “These results in mice suggest that it could actually be a genetic basis for the syndrome. We really never expected that we would be able to decouple the sleep-wake cycle and the eating cycle, especially with a simple mutation. It opens up a whole lot of future questions about how these cycles are regulated.” The researchers have yet to test whether humans with NES have any PER1 mutations.
When the gene is mutated, sleep and eating cycles are thrown off, which could potentially make it much easier for people to crave calories before bed. Sufferers of NES typically don’t eat much in the morning or during the day, proceed to overeat at night, and then rely on food when they wake up during the night in order to fall back asleep.
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List of foods for a holistic, nutritional intervention:
FAMILY FOOD CONTENT STUDY
1. Fruits Plantains
Pineapples
Bananas
Kiwi fruit
Plums
Avocado
Eggplant Serotonin, Melatonin Feldman et al. (25)
Udenfriend et al. (26)
Ly et al. (27)
2. Vegetables Cherry tomato
Spinach
Chinese cabbage
Hot peppers
Potato Serotonin, Tryptophan Feldman et al. (25)
Udenfriend et al. (26)
Ly et al. (27)
Feldman et al. (25)Jim
3. Nuts Walnut
Butternut
Peanut
Black walnuts
English walnuts
Shagbark hickory nuts
Mocker nut
Hickory nuts
PecansSweet pignuts Serotonin, Tryptophan Feldman et al. (25)
Udenfriend et al. (26)
Ly et al. (27)
4. Other Soybeans
Pumpkin seeds
Parmesan cheese
Sesame seeds
Cheddar cheese
Wheat flour Serotonin, Tryptophan Feldman et al. (25)
Udenfriend et al. (26)
Ly et al. (27)
Conclusion
We would like to draw the attention of medical societies and physicians involved in the management of patients with eating disorders and obesity to NES, as it is a common, but neglected, syndrome. Changes to the diets of patients to include small amounts of healthy serotonin-containing foods should be recommended, enabling patients to enjoy the benefits of these natural resources. We propose that trying such regimens will help in developing NES treatments as well as help the patients feel cared for.
- See more at: http://www.hypothesisjournal.com/?p=1458#sthash.ZEV5U0so.dpuf0 -
Very interesting information Karen. Thank you for sharing. I have a problem with eating at night, and not just junk food kinds of items.0
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I have heard about this syndrome before, and believe I suffer from it too. I'm planning on discussing it with my Doctor at my next appointment. Thanks for the information.0
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I'm not a night eater in the way you described, i'm much more a secret eater and that most often happens at night because thats when I can be alone. I also have a tendency to delay eating in a vicious circle. I delay for all sorts of reasons, wanting to get more work done, avoiding making a decision, waiting till i'm alone. I can go hours till i'm so hungry I make a bad choice (undoubtedly I also wait to give myself an excuse to make bad choices), wich of course I want to conceal because I am embarrassed or ashamed. Add to that, that I like to be alone just for some private time at the end of the day, but that time feeds into the self destructive behavior of being along so I can eat in secret, and the food choices I make then are never good.
I'm working on it and have only done it dozen or so times in the past 60 days., wich may sound like a lot but its not compared to how often I use to do it in the past. I need to be comfortable eating both good and not so good foods in front of others since I know my fears of judgment and shame are my own and not what others are actually thinking.
Small victories every day.0 -
You're doing great Pat and you're right small victories every day. I used to be a horrible closet eater so I understand. I still have nights when I wait until everyone is in bed and then binge horribly. Like you, I'm ashamed and don't want anyone to see. And my binges don't have to be sweets, though they are most of the time. I can honestly binge on baby carrots until I'm in the bathroom throwing up. I'm also bad about skipping meals. Because of my gastric bypass there are a lot of days it'll be 10 at night and the only reason I realize I haven't eaten is because I have a headache. This especially happens when Cody isn't home. But, watch out when I start eating. It's like I'm making up for the whole day which is not good. Thankfully I'm having more good days than bad but I'm still working on it. I just wanted you to know you're not alone.0
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Your doing great as well Dee.
The horrible thing is it goes from the shame of eating in secret to being ashamed about food in general. It's an evil cycle.0 -
Yes, yes it is Pat. I can tell you it does get better and easier but it doesn't happen overnight unfortunately. I'll try to find a book of mine that really helped me. I'd give you the name but honestly I cant remember the name.....old age you know, lol.0
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Thank you Karen for posting. I've suffered from this for 20 years. Ever since I started dieting. I would stave during the day and binge at night. I told Karen my story but I will say it here. I went to the doctor when in was 20 and living with my boyfriend because I couldn't sleep in the same bed as him because I didn't want him to know I ate. I was suffering from not being able to eat in public period. I would get severe anxiety being asked out on dates and would say no to dinner dates. I would not eat at luncheons at work or at thanksgiving. But at night my guard would go down once I actually went to sleep. I would be half awake and go to the kitchen and grab whatever and binge. I went to the doctor after reading about it in a magazine and how paxil was supposed to help and was put on the first antidepressant of my life. It did not help but it cured my anxiety. My boyfriend and I ended up breaking up and in went through a deep depression and over the next 2 years or maybe less gained 234lbs by now eating during the day and continuing to wake up and binge 2-5 times a night.
My whole diet struggles have been about controlling the night time eating. I cn control the day time pretty well. But the night time gets me. I will lay in bed unable to sleep or wake up multiple times with such anxiety I just feel like I need to eat to soothe myself to sleep. It doesn't matter if I have a full calorie day or not anymore.
The only thing that has helped is certain medications but those only seem to work for about 2 months and I'm back to it. I've tried everything from every antidepressant to sleep medication out there. Sleep medication makes it worse. I can actually eat on those and not have any recollection of it.
Anyway, not sure how to beat it. I have no idea what I am so anxious about. I haven't had a full nights sleep in 20 years. I'm so tired.0 -
I'm not sure how to beat it either, Heather, although doing therapy and working the "shame" aspects of secret eating and night eating has helped. Having my husband aware of it and having his help to not do it any more helps too. Not having any junk food in the house helps--I'm less likely to get out of bed for salad. An occasional Xanax at night helps.
Oddly, though, when I read the list of foods that are natural seratonin and tryptophan producers, I almost flipped. My body knows what it needs, and when I'm low on potassium I start craving bananas and cantaloupe like crazy. Well, over the last two years of trying to recover from night eating and binge eating (almost always at night), I've started eating more and more of the foods on that list without even knowing why I was craving them. Especially plums... I think I maybe ate ONE plum in my life until two years ago, then I started eating at least one a day when I can get them. I had no idea they affected night eating.
The other thing I've read is that the gene mutation makes it more difficult for our bodies to get the protein we need, so our hunger can really be driven by not enough protein. I've done much better on a low carb/high protein diet without knowing that. If I eat eggs and ham or bacon in the morning (no toast), my body is much, much happier with me than if I have oatmeal or some other carb. Most days I have to force myself to eat breakfast--I really, really could go until sunset without eating--but getting the protein start means my day will go well and I likely won't eat at night.
If others know more about this stuff or have experience with it, I'd love to hear it. Among the bariatric patient populations, night eaters make up a huge percentage.0 -
Read this here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2014/02/24/night-eating-syndrome-a-warning-sign/
If you or someone you know is engaging in repetitive nighttime eating–even without being hungry–you may want to pay attention to some recent research about this concerning behavior.
Based on a new study, an uncommon eating disorder whose hallmark is excessive eating at nighttime, but not always outright binging, may be a warning sign of more serious mental health issues, and should be taken seriously.
The research was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health online, February 3.
Investigators reviewed mental health history and prevalence of eating disorders in nearly 1,600 university students and discovered that close to 4 percent of students met night eating syndrome criteria. They also found that close to a third of those who met criteria also engaged in binge eating.
While those with night eating syndrome may consume most of their calories at night, additional important features include no significant caloric consumption or appetite in the morning, and the feeling that it is essential to eat in order to get back to sleep. Based on the study, occasional late night snacks were not a concern unless they occurred more frequently or on a nightly basis.
According to the researchers, it is important to separate night eating from binge eating because available treatments and management for night eating are different than other eating disorders, which may also coexist.
Individuals with night eating syndrome (NES) often describe feelings such as lack of control over their eating behaviors, resulting in feelings of guilt and shame related to their condition.
It is also important to distinguish between sleep-related eating disorder, (SRED) a disorder which has received a significant amount of media attention, and night eating syndrome. People with SRED eat while sleepwalking, or while in a twilight state between sleep and being awake. People with SRED are not aware of what they’re doing, and often they may wake up to discover dishes or food in their bed, and have no memory of eating at all. A high percentage of these patients typically use prescription sleeping medications. By contrast, those with night eating syndrome are fully awake and aware of what they are consuming–with no memory deficits or lack of recall for their nightly eating rituals.
Results of the recent study published Feb 3 indicate that night eating was also common in the students taking medications for ADHD, as well as those with anorexia nervosa. As a result, it is possible that other disorders may increase the risk of developing a nighttime eating syndrome.
Based upon classification criteria in the newest psychiatric DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5) night eating disorder is a distinct diagnosis. While the hallmark of the syndrome is often defined by increased appetite at night, it commonly is characterized by so called “grazing” on food during the evening, as opposed to outright binging–and also may include waking up during the night to eat. Often the urge to eat is linked to the feeling it that it will improve sleep or allow the person to get back to sleep.
According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, night eating syndrome affects an estimated 1-2 percent of the population, equally prevalent in both men and women.
Another study from JAMA noted that by 6 p.m., people with night eating syndrome consumed just about a third of their daily caloric intake, while those without the condition had consumed close to seventy five percent. Those who ate predominantly at night consumed 56% of daily calories, while those without the condition consumed only 15%, from the hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Night eaters in this study were also much more likely than other individuals to have an addiction problem. Other research indicates that people with night eating syndrome tend to suffer from a distinct form of depression. In contrast to the usual pattern where depression is more pronounced in the early part of the day, night eaters tend to become more depressed during the evening.
A history of depression and self-injuring was more common among those with night eating disorder.
Medical Effects of Night Eating Syndrome
Those with night eating syndrome may also display concerning behaviors found in those with other eating disorders, which may predispose them not only to emotional or psychological effects, but to serious medical problems including weight gain, the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and elevated blood pressure.
Individuals with night eating syndrome often have a history of substance abuse, and may also suffer from depression. They typically report being more depressed at night. They also frequently have sleep disorders.
Recognition and awareness of night eating syndrome is vital so individuals can be referred for treatment. It is especially important to be aware of persons waking up and eating multiple times throughout the night, concurrent with missing food and progressive weight gain.
Signs and Clues Suggesting Night Eating Syndrome
Those with night eating syndrome may be overweight or obese, but can also be close to normal weight as well. They may also feel as though they have no control over their eating behavior, eat in secret and even when they are not hungry. They may also feel shame and remorse over their behavior.
Some may hide food out of shame or embarrassment. Those with night eating syndrome typically eat rapidly, eating more than most people would in a similar time period and may also feel a loss of control over their eating. Some may eat even when they are not hungry and continue eating even when they are uncomfortably full. Feeling embarrassed by the amount they eat, they typically eat alone to minimize their embarrassment. They often feel guilt, depression, disgust, distress or a combination of these symptoms.
Those with night-eating syndrome eat a majority of their food during the evening. They generally eat little or nothing in the morning, and wake up during the night and typically fill up on high-calorie snacks.
Traits of patients with night-eating syndrome may include being overweight, frequent failed attempts at dieting, depression or anxiety, substance abuse, concern about weight and shape, perfectionism and a negative self-image.
Etiology of Night Eating Syndrome
The exact cause of night eating syndrome is not clear, as well as its link to addiction and depression. One theory is that night eating syndrome involves a disruption in the hormones that regulate sleep, appetite, and mood–specifically, an alteration or disruption in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It is possible that night eating syndrome may be a form of “self-medication”, since a large proportion of snacking late at night generally involves carbohydrate-rich or “comfort” type foods.
There may also be a number of contributing factors to night eating syndrome. Some college students may develop the habit of nighttime eating, and this may continue into adulthood. Those with night eating syndrome may also be high achievers who work through lunch, and may then make up the caloric debt by eating more at night.
Night eating syndrome can also be viewed as a response to dieting. With restriction of calories during the day, persons typically overcompensate at night by eating greater amounts. Night eating may also be a response to stress bottled up during the day, with eating serving as a way to self- medicate, according to some persons with the syndrome. Treatments For Night Eating Syndrome
Consistent with other eating disorders, successful treatment of night eating syndrome generally requires a combination of therapies.
Educating patients about their condition is an important first step in therapy for night eating syndrome, primarily so they develop a greater awareness of their eating behaviors and can begin to identify triggers that influence how they eat.
Potential treatments of night eating syndrome may include nutrition assessment and therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exercise physiology, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), interpersonal therapy (IT) along with management of stress. Online support groups as well as individual counseling may also help patients reduce symptoms and gain independence and control over the syndrome.
Identification of individuals with night eating syndrome and referral for further evaluation is essential in order to help identify other important issues such as underlying depression and substance abuse that require further attention.
:yawn: :yawn: :yawn:
Not very helpful answers in treating it, but very spot on in describing it.0 -
Thanks for that, Heather!
This part:
Another study from JAMA noted that by 6 p.m., people with night eating syndrome consumed just about a third of their daily caloric intake, while those without the condition had consumed close to seventy five percent. Those who ate predominantly at night consumed 56% of daily calories, while those without the condition consumed only 15%, from the hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
That fits me perfectly. I have to force myself to eat breakfast and lunch. Without forcing, I wouldn't eat until dinner, then keep eating/grazing all evening, like a bottomless pit.0 -
This is ME...right now...stopping to FORCE myself to eat for the first time today. I brought fruit to eat for lunch and I still don't want it, but I am making myself eat it. It's 3:40 and it's the first thing I've had. This is typical. I know I am just fueling the problem. Ugh.
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Oh, the expression on your face is priceless!!!
If it helps, think about your poor body. It needs fuel while you are up and moving, not when you are resting. Your liver needs time to detox while you sleep.0 -
Okay, fellow night eaters, let's keep this thread going. I'm going to research some treatment models.0
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Lobotomy? Hehehe. My mom and dad also do this. Makes the gene thing sound even more plausible. Anyway, one thing she does is keep a peeled orange or something by her bed so she doesn't get out of bed to eat. She says it works for her for a time. I remember them buying a dozen donuts and then gorging on them in the middle of the night. For years they didn't etc breakfast lunch. I think they are doing better on lunch though now. I know they are both work out nuts in retirement, it is really cute.0
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Bumping up this thread again.0
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I eat most of my calories at night. As a kid the smell of breakfast would make me nauseous and killed my appetite. Wasn't until I had my gall bladder removed that I had to force myself to eat breakfast (or I'd get sick). For the most part, I just eat fruit and yogurt. With work, I get caught up that I barely eat my lunch or I'm snacking in the afternoon. By the time I'm home, I'm starving.
Although today I walked and ate my lunch with a coworker in the park. Enjoyed the sun and view of the river. Still didn't finish my lunch which was raw veggies with salsa and hummus dip and cherries. But this time it was because I got full. Raw veggies fills you up fierce! Half a sandwich baggie of broccoli, cauliflower, baby carrots and snap peas and I was done. Ate some cherries and saved the rest for later if I needed a snack.0 -
Kourui, have you every tried to break the night eating habit? What has or hasn't worked for you? And have you ever talked to your doctor about night eating?0
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No cause I never saw it as a habit, I just considered myself more a night owl. Nor would I have talked to my doctor about it. I'm more awake at night than during the day. My willpower went as far as this:
Before Morning Me: "Ok, I'll stop eating after dinner and go to bed early tonight."
Evening Me: "Oooh look internet/video game/movie/book!" 10, 11 or midnight. "I'm still awake, I'll have a snack."
After Morning Me: "Oy... next time, go to bed early"
and repeat.
The bigger difference now is before my snack would've been cookies or chips or candy. Now it's fruit or nuts,sometimes cheese and crackers. Although sometimes the ice cream would break out.0 -
I am also a night owl, preferring to work much more in the evening then in the morning wich means I can be up all hours of the evening. Thats changed recently and with the weather. With all the exercise especially in the evening I just find myself more then ready to hit the sack at midnight or 1am. I guess thats a good thing since my sleeping patterns have returned somewhat to normal. I know I don't have the same nighttime eating issues as some as i don't tend to eat the majority of my calories at night unless I give into a craving (and unlike Karen their are plenty of late night food places here). I have been noticing that they tend to be related to how I have eaten through the day. If I eat breakfast at all and at a reasonable time I don't tend to eat late at night, similar if I have lunch on time. So if I eat consistently at the right times I seem to be able to avoid it. The worst is when I skip or put off dinner and let myself build into these hunger cravings that make it very difficult for me to think and make good choices. I know that sounds like a bit of an excuse but the best way I can describe it by saying it feels like my thinking becomes impaired and its harder to think rationally about food.0
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That sounds completely normal. If you let your hunger build, you are more likely to lose control and go balls to the wall for a quick fix.
Last night I did good as I said on the daily. In an effort to try and build . Normal eating pattern, I got up and had breakfast with my daughter. We had a banana. It was good but my stomach has been gnawing with hunger ever since. I have noticed that when I eat breakfast, I am definitely more hungry then when I fast.0 -
Ok, broke into my veggies and dip already. Brought them for lunch, but like I said...more hungry now. Since I brought so much food to eat today I went ahead and pre-logged everything worrying I wasn't leaving enough calories for tonight. (It's going to take a long time to get out of that mindset). After breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks, I still have over 1000 calories left for dinner and anything else that may pop up. Hopefully nothing else pops up tonight. But, I have room for a nice dinner and after dinner treat. Going to get in a lot of protein tonight. I should've had some at breakfast.
Hoping my headaches will start going away eating more often like this... I have had a doozie all week.0 -
I finally read this whole thing and I can't quite figure out if I fit this or if it's just that I binged at night to avoid being seen. I'm rarely hungry in the mornings. Lunch is eh. Dinnertime and later, though, I could just eat eat eat.
I've noticed this has gotten a lot better since I started exercising. I eat dinner later because I get home from walking home from work/the gym late, but I don't keep eating past being full, usually. I also just haven't been giving in to the urge to binge (with a notable exception this Monday when I felt like crap).
I still definitely eat most of my calories in the evenings, with very few exceptions. Now it's just more moderate.0 -
I finally read this whole thing and I can't quite figure out if I fit this or if it's just that I binged at night to avoid being seen. I'm rarely hungry in the mornings. Lunch is eh. Dinnertime and later, though, I could just eat eat eat.
I've noticed this has gotten a lot better since I started exercising. I eat dinner later because I get home from walking home from work/the gym late, but I don't keep eating past being full, usually. I also just haven't been giving in to the urge to binge (with a notable exception this Monday when I felt like crap).
I still definitely eat most of my calories in the evenings, with very few exceptions. Now it's just more moderate.
Norah, I do better on days I exercise, especially if I b swim in the evening. I'm guessing the endorphins help!0
