Abstract:Night eating syndrome (NES) is characterized by caloric intake ≥ 25% of total daily after dinner and/or by two or more weekly nocturnal awakenings accompanied by food ingestion. Causes of NES are not entirely clear and seem to involve a desynchronization between the circadian rhythms of food ingestion and sleep, resulting in a delayed pattern of food intake. Estimates of the prevalence of NES in the general population are around 1.5%, and although much higher frequencies have been described in obese individual… Show more
“…Treatments targeting the regulation of circadian rhythms, mood, stress, and faulty cognitions have been considered. Pinto et al [ 53 ] conducted a critical review of treatment for NES and concluded that serotonergic agents and psychological interventions, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), have shown effectiveness [ 52 ]. However, Muscatello et al contends that there is still a paucity of research in this area, with treatment for NES remaining an emerging field [ 17 ••].…”
Section: Treatmentmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…It is therefore thought to be connected to NES. Decreased serotonin levels have been hypothesized to lead to the alteration of circadian rhythms and increase risk of evening hyperphagia [ 53 ]. Night eaters have also been found to have higher levels of serotonin transporter in the temporal lobe, which contributes to changes in circadian rhythms and appetite [ 54 ].…”
Purpose of Review
Night eating syndrome (NES) is an eating disorder that has historically been under-studied. The current review aims to summarize the most up-to-date research on NES to support better awareness.
Recent Findings
Since NES was recently included as a formal diagnosis, research on the prevalence of NES is ever evolving. Current studies underscore the high comorbidity between NES and other eating disorders, with additional complexities for patient with comorbid eating disorders. Recent findings also support the association between NES and sleep correlates, a relationship that has remained during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging research confirms correlates of distress in NES across cultures. There remain mixed findings between NES and BMI. There is also debate around whether age is a risk factor. Bariatric surgery research has focused on the re-emergence of NES post-operatively.
Summary
Our understanding of the correlates of NES is increasing. However, research on the treatment for NES remains particularly under-studied and requires further attention.
“…Treatments targeting the regulation of circadian rhythms, mood, stress, and faulty cognitions have been considered. Pinto et al [ 53 ] conducted a critical review of treatment for NES and concluded that serotonergic agents and psychological interventions, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), have shown effectiveness [ 52 ]. However, Muscatello et al contends that there is still a paucity of research in this area, with treatment for NES remaining an emerging field [ 17 ••].…”
Section: Treatmentmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…It is therefore thought to be connected to NES. Decreased serotonin levels have been hypothesized to lead to the alteration of circadian rhythms and increase risk of evening hyperphagia [ 53 ]. Night eaters have also been found to have higher levels of serotonin transporter in the temporal lobe, which contributes to changes in circadian rhythms and appetite [ 54 ].…”
Purpose of Review
Night eating syndrome (NES) is an eating disorder that has historically been under-studied. The current review aims to summarize the most up-to-date research on NES to support better awareness.
Recent Findings
Since NES was recently included as a formal diagnosis, research on the prevalence of NES is ever evolving. Current studies underscore the high comorbidity between NES and other eating disorders, with additional complexities for patient with comorbid eating disorders. Recent findings also support the association between NES and sleep correlates, a relationship that has remained during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging research confirms correlates of distress in NES across cultures. There remain mixed findings between NES and BMI. There is also debate around whether age is a risk factor. Bariatric surgery research has focused on the re-emergence of NES post-operatively.
Summary
Our understanding of the correlates of NES is increasing. However, research on the treatment for NES remains particularly under-studied and requires further attention.
“…This finding is consistent with that reported by Pinto et al and Rand et al, who estimated the prevalence of this condition to be 1.5% in the world. 1 , 20 In a study by de Zwaan et al, conducted on the general population in Germany, prevalence of NES symptoms was indicated at 1.1%. 21 Similar results were obtained in the study conducted by Zadjali et al on the population of Oman where the criteria of NES were fulfilled by 1.5% of the studied people.…”
IntroductionNight-eating syndrome (NES) involves uncontrolled and most often repeated binge eating during the night. It is related with mood disorders as well as sleep disorders and it may cause obesity. Risks related to NES are obesity, binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, affective disorders, and sleep disorders. The objective of this study is to analyze eating habits in terms of the risk assessment of NES occurrence in the population of women in the Masovian Voivodeship (in Poland).Patients and methodsSix hundred and eleven women living in the Masovian Voivodeship participated in the study. The average age of the respondents was 22.7 years (median = 23.0; interquartile range = 3.0). The Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) was used to assess the risk of NES.ResultsIn the studied group of women, 1.3% of cases (N = 12) reached a NEQ total score of ≥25, which indicates a probability of 40.7% for NES, while 0.7% (N = 4) reached a score of ≥30, which indicates a probability of 72.2% for occurrence of this syndrome. The highest average total score was observed in the group of obese people. The level of education of the participants did not significantly affect the NEQ score. A weak correlation was observed between the place of residence variable and the mood/sleep subscale (r = 0.11, P < 0.01).ConclusionNES may be one of the causes of overweight and obesity; therefore, the need for further studies on this health issue is justified. It is worth pointing out that knowing the conditions responsible for the occurrence of NES, it is possible to suggest a prevention procedure for this condition.
“…Pharmacological treatment. Serotonergic system, the main regulator of a wide variety of physiological functions and behaviors such as eating, sleep and mood is thought to be intrinsically involved in NES; mainly, a decrease in serotonin levels would lead to the alteration of circadian rhythms and to a high risk of evening hyperphagia and nocturnal eating (Allison et al, 2005a;Pinto et al, 2016;Stunkard et al, 2009a). Moreover, as previously reported, in night eaters higher levels of SERT in the temporal lobe have been documented (Lundgren et al, 2008b); this finding supports the presence of dysfunctions in postsynaptic serotonergic transmission, that contributes to changes in circadian rhythms and appetite (Stunkard et al, 2009b).…”
Background: First described in 1955, night eating syndrome refers to an abnormal eating behavior clinically defined by the presence of evening hyperphagia (>25% of daily caloric intake) and/or nocturnal awaking with food ingestion occurring ⩾ 2 times per week. Aims: Although the syndrome is frequently comorbid with obesity, metabolic and psychiatric disorders, its etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, assessment and treatment still remain not fully understood. Methods: This review was conducted according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines; PubMed database was searched until 31 October 2020, using the key terms: ‘Night Eating Syndrome’ AND ‘complications’ OR ‘diagnosis’ OR ‘drug therapy’ OR ‘epidemiology’ OR ‘etiology’ OR ‘physiology’ OR ‘physiopathology’ OR ‘psychology’ OR ‘therapy’. Results: From a total of 239 citations, 120 studies assessing night eating syndrome met the inclusion criteria to be included in the review. Conclusion: The inclusion of night eating syndrome into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 ‘Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders’ category should drive the attention of clinician and researchers toward this syndrome that is still defined by evolving diagnostic criteria. The correct identification and assessment of NES could facilitate the detection and the diagnosis of this disorder, whose bio-psycho-social roots support its multifactorial nature. The significant rates of comorbid illnesses associated with NES and the overlapping symptoms with other eating disorders require a focused clinical attention. Treatment options for night eating syndrome include both pharmacological (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, topiramate and melatonergic drugs) and non-pharmachological approaches; the combination of such strategies within a multidisciplinary approach should be addressed in future, well-sized and long-term studies.
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