Understanding

Night Eating Syndrome

Night eating syndrome is a disorder of the timing of eating: little or no appetite in the morning, an excessive amount of food eaten in the evening, and/or waking during the night to eat — while fully awake and aware. It is recurrent, distressing, and, importantly, treatable.

Also known as: NES, night eating disorder

Affects an estimated 1–2% of the general population and all genders; more common in people with obesity (~10%), binge eating disorder, or other eating and mood disorders. Classified as a form of OSFED.

Written by the Eating Disorder Facts editorial team Awaiting clinical review by Cindy Hawthorn, MD Updated July 20, 2026

What is night eating syndrome?

Night eating syndrome (NES) was first described in 1955 by psychiatrist Albert Stunkard. At its core is a delay in the daily rhythm of eating: appetite is suppressed in the morning and shifts heavily toward the evening and night. People with NES take in a large share of their food after the evening meal, may wake during the night to eat, and often struggle to sleep without doing so.

In the DSM-5, night eating syndrome is recognized as an example of Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) — a real, diagnosable eating disorder, not simply a bad habit.

Diagnostic features

Proposed diagnostic criteria center on evening hyperphagia — consuming at least a quarter of the day's food after the evening meal — and/or recurrent nocturnal ingestions (waking to eat) at least twice a week. Crucially, the person is aware of the eating and can remember it. Alongside this, diagnosis requires several additional features, such as morning loss of appetite, a strong urge to eat between dinner and sleep, insomnia, a belief that one must eat to fall or return to sleep, or a lowering of mood in the evening — together with genuine distress or impairment, present for at least three months.

Night eating syndrome vs. sleep-related eating disorder

This distinction matters. In night eating syndrome, the person is awake and aware while eating and remembers it afterward. In sleep-related eating disorder (SRED), eating happens during a partial arousal from sleep — a parasomnia, similar to sleepwalking — with little or no memory of it, and sometimes the eating of strange or unsafe items. The two are treated differently, so telling them apart is an important part of assessment.

How it differs from binge eating and late-night snacking

Night eating is also distinct from binge eating disorder: the night-time ingestions in NES are typically smaller snacks rather than the large, out-of-control binges that define BED. And it is more than ordinary late-night snacking — what sets NES apart is the recurring pattern combined with morning appetite loss, insomnia, distress, and a sense of compulsion.

Recognize

Signs & Symptoms

Little or no appetite in the morning; frequently skipping breakfast

Eating a large proportion of the day’s food after the evening meal (evening hyperphagia)

Waking one or more times during the night with an urge to eat

Feeling unable to fall asleep — or return to sleep — without eating

Being fully awake and aware during night-time eating, and remembering it

Difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia)

Low or worsening mood in the evening and at night

Guilt, shame, or distress about the eating pattern

A recurring pattern rather than an occasional late meal

Understand

Causes & Risk Factors

No single cause has been identified. Eating disorders arise from a complex interplay of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors.

A disrupted circadian rhythm — a delay in the daily timing of appetite-related hormones such as melatonin, leptin, and cortisol

Stress, anxiety, and depression, which are strongly associated with NES

Daytime dieting or restriction that pushes eating into the evening and night

Genetic and family-history factors

Co-occurring obesity, binge eating disorder, or other eating disorders

Co-occurring sleep disorders such as insomnia

Health Impact

Health Consequences

Eating disorders have serious medical consequences and can be life-threatening if untreated.

Poor sleep quality and daytime fatigue
Low mood, anxiety, and depression, which can both cause and result from the pattern
Weight gain, with associations to obesity and metabolic problems
Poorer blood-sugar control in people with diabetes
Guilt, shame, and reduced quality of life
Worsening of co-occurring eating or mood disorders

Healing

Treatment Approaches

01 SSRIs — sertraline has the strongest evidence, with a placebo-controlled randomized trial showing meaningful benefit for night eating syndrome

02 Cognitive behavioral therapy adapted for NES — addressing thoughts, behaviors, and the eating-sleep link

03 Redistributing eating earlier in the day by reducing daytime restriction, so the body is not driven to eat at night

04 Sleep hygiene and treatment of co-occurring insomnia

05 Approaches targeting the circadian component, such as bright light therapy and melatonin, which have been explored

06 Treating co-occurring depression and anxiety

07 Psychoeducation and a multidisciplinary team combining medical, psychiatric, nutritional, and sleep expertise

There is hope

Recovery is possible with the right help.

Talk to a professional who specializes in eating disorder treatment.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources