People with the condition usually eat for much of the evening, often eating more throughout the night than they do at dinner. The syndrome isn't officially recognized as either a psychological or a medical disorder yet. No commonly accepted treatment exists for night-eating syndrome because it remains relatively unstudied. We've treated them successfully by concentrating on shifting their sleeping patterns, helping them to eat normally in the daytime and to deal with the causes of stress. Night-eating syndrome isn't all in the head, however.
Sufferers have detectable changes in certain hormones that control sleep, appetite and stress.
The Journal of the American Medical Association has more information on the clinical aspects of the condition. Inc. This news story is not produced by the American Psychological Association and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the association.