Bad Eating Habits Causes Night Eating Disorder

(April 5, 2006) -- Bill Lederer said he used to get up two to three times a night to snack in his sleep.

"In the morning, I would go to the sink and find out that I had eaten ice cream or something and really didn't have a recollection of it,” Lederer said.

Though his weight stayed pretty much the same, the lack of sleep left him exhausted.

"I'm not sure why I was doing it,” he said.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania said it could be one of several reasons. For instance, bad eating habits can trigger night eating syndrome.

"People oftentimes don't eat breakfast, they might eat a lunch, although that might even be delayed, and they'll eat 25 percent or more of their food after the evening meal,” said Jennifer Lundgren, Clinical Psychologist.

Depression and stress have been associated with night eating, and in a recent study, Dr. Lundgren linked it to alcohol abuse and obesity.

"Obese people actually had five times the likelihood of meeting criteria for night eating syndrome compared to normal weight individuals,” she said.

In another study, doctors wanted to see if an antidepressant could curb nocturnal noshing.

"These are drugs that affect serotonin and they can help depression, but also other conditions, like anxiety disorders, and now it looks like night eating syndrome,” said John O’Reardon, Psychiatrist.

Dr. O'Reardon said 70 percent of participants showed improvement of their symptoms.

"Of those who get better with the medication, 50 percent will be better the first four weeks, but the other 50 percent is in the second four weeks,” he said.

Lederer took part in the study.

“I sleep much better now than I did then,” he said. “I now sleep straight through pretty much from about eleven to seven in the morning."

And as for night eating, he's no longer losing sleep over it.

Between 1-2 percent of Americans have night eating syndrome.

Some doctors are using the medication Zoloft, to treat patients with the disorder.

Last updated: 04/06

Related Information:

• Night Eating Syndrome - Eating Disorders Center
• Eating Disorders in Males
• Eating Disorders Plague a Variety of People
• Comorbidity of Anxiety With Eating Disorders and OCD
• Food's Comfort Can Be Hard to Resist
• Eating Disorders Are Your Problem, Too
• Now You Can Help Your Child Overpower an Eating Disorder
• Parent-to-Parent Tips on Coping With Your Eating Disordered Child
• What is Body Image and How Do You Improve It
• How Coaches Inspire Eating Disorders - Eating Disorders Center
• Impact on Relationships - Eating Disorders Community
• Helping a Friend with an Eating Disorder - Eating Disorders Center
• Know When to Seek Help for your Child - Eating Disorders
• Teens with Eating Disorders Visit Diet Websites

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