Only a few people suffer from night eating disorder or NED. Of this small percentage of the population, the majority of sufferers are obese. Through recent studies, researchers have also found that the condition occurs more frequently to women than to men. Those who are diagnosed with the syndrome have similar experiences. The person wakes up in the morning with little appetite. The lack of hunger may last throughout the day, but because the individual isn't eating very much, she becomes increasingly anxious and stressed as the hours pass by. The lack of nutrition adversely affects her mood. Then as bedtime nears, the NED sufferer begins to crave snacks that are high in carbohydrates. The amount of calories that the individual eats really won't be very much at one time. However, the individual finds herself returning to the kitchen frequently so that the calories add up. Someone with NED may even wake up during the night from hunger. This person craves food to go back to sleep. Though cynics might scoff at the idea that people actually have to eat to go to sleep, medical researchers claim that changes in various hormone levels have convinced them that night eating disorder is a legitimate medical condition. NED isn't just a bad habit that can be overcome with willpower.
Not only isn't NED a bad habit, neither is it a simple case of insomnia. For one thing, researchers find it relevant that NED sufferers choose to eat foods that are high in carbohydrates. Eating such foods helps increase the levels of a hormone called serotonin in the brain. Scientists know that this is a hormone that helps people fall asleep when tired. Because the individual is subconsciously choosing carbohydrates, it's almost as if the person's body knows what is needed to get rest. Additionally, researchers have made another interesting finding while conducting their night eating disorder studies. People who suffer from NED have trouble with another hormone that suppresses the appetite of someone who is asleep. This hormone isn't at its proper levels for individuals suffering from NED. Because of this, the person wakes up hungry and needs to munch on snacks so that she can go back to sleep. Because the individual has eaten so much during the night, however, she isn't hungry in the morning and the cycle begins again. Not getting a good's night rest, then, leads to problems in the daytime hours. The person may be moody or agitated. NED may not be as well-known as other disorders, such as anorexia, bingeing, and bulimia. But it appears to be as legitimate as these other conditions that receive much more recognition.
Centuries ago, a psalmist wrote: "My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber" (Psalm 121:2-3). Individuals who suffer from night eating disorder can find comfort in knowing that even in the darkest night that God is awake and listening to prayers for relief from such troubles. The sufferers also can be thankful that recent medical studies have given a name to what troubles them. No longer can these people be accused of willful misbehavior and unhealthy habits. Thanks to diligent medical research, help is now available to them. A person who believes she suffers from NED should contact her physician for a medical diagnosis. The process for diagnosing the condition often begins by making an appointment with a sleep lab. The patient will spend at least one night in the lab hooked up to equipment designed to monitor the brain's activity. Bloodwork will probably be ordered, too. Once a proper diagnosis has been made, medication that helps with hormone levels may be prescribed. However, those who are diagnosed with night eating disorder are often warned against taking sleeping pills. That type of medication appears to create additional problems for the patient. The goal is to break the hunger cycle so that a proper night's slumber can be enjoyed.
Some people may be diagnosed as having a related syndrome known as nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder (NS-RED). This differs in that the person's condition is related to other sleeping disorders, for example, sleepwalking. Someone with NS-RED may actually get up during the night and fix an entire meal. Then the individual eats the food that has been prepared. But in the morning, the person has no recollection of their nocturnal activities. Not all sleepwalkers engage in such culinary endeavors, but for those who do, treatment needs to be sought. As stated earlier, those who are already obese often suffer from night eating disorder. The syndrome causes an additional weight gain and may lead to the onset of type 2 diabetes. This is why it's so important to get a proper medical diagnosis.
While medication that adjusts hormone levels often helps alleviate the symptoms of night eating disorder, other types of treatments are also available. For example, a patient may be given a prescription for medications that alleviate stress and anxiety. The physician will most certainly advise the patient to limit or eliminate his intake of alcohol and caffeine. Of course, this is good advice for just about anyone, even though it can be difficult to break a habit of having a cup of coffee first thing in the morning or a cup of tea in the middle of the afternoon. Counseling and therapy may also help patients with night eating disorder overcome the syndrome. Patients can be taught techniques for releasing pent-up stress and anxiety that doesn't include food.
Not only isn't NED a bad habit, neither is it a simple case of insomnia. For one thing, researchers find it relevant that NED sufferers choose to eat foods that are high in carbohydrates. Eating such foods helps increase the levels of a hormone called serotonin in the brain. Scientists know that this is a hormone that helps people fall asleep when tired. Because the individual is subconsciously choosing carbohydrates, it's almost as if the person's body knows what is needed to get rest. Additionally, researchers have made another interesting finding while conducting their night eating disorder studies. People who suffer from NED have trouble with another hormone that suppresses the appetite of someone who is asleep. This hormone isn't at its proper levels for individuals suffering from NED. Because of this, the person wakes up hungry and needs to munch on snacks so that she can go back to sleep. Because the individual has eaten so much during the night, however, she isn't hungry in the morning and the cycle begins again. Not getting a good's night rest, then, leads to problems in the daytime hours. The person may be moody or agitated. NED may not be as well-known as other disorders, such as anorexia, bingeing, and bulimia. But it appears to be as legitimate as these other conditions that receive much more recognition.
Centuries ago, a psalmist wrote: "My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber" (Psalm 121:2-3). Individuals who suffer from night eating disorder can find comfort in knowing that even in the darkest night that God is awake and listening to prayers for relief from such troubles. The sufferers also can be thankful that recent medical studies have given a name to what troubles them. No longer can these people be accused of willful misbehavior and unhealthy habits. Thanks to diligent medical research, help is now available to them. A person who believes she suffers from NED should contact her physician for a medical diagnosis. The process for diagnosing the condition often begins by making an appointment with a sleep lab. The patient will spend at least one night in the lab hooked up to equipment designed to monitor the brain's activity. Bloodwork will probably be ordered, too. Once a proper diagnosis has been made, medication that helps with hormone levels may be prescribed. However, those who are diagnosed with night eating disorder are often warned against taking sleeping pills. That type of medication appears to create additional problems for the patient. The goal is to break the hunger cycle so that a proper night's slumber can be enjoyed.
Some people may be diagnosed as having a related syndrome known as nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder (NS-RED). This differs in that the person's condition is related to other sleeping disorders, for example, sleepwalking. Someone with NS-RED may actually get up during the night and fix an entire meal. Then the individual eats the food that has been prepared. But in the morning, the person has no recollection of their nocturnal activities. Not all sleepwalkers engage in such culinary endeavors, but for those who do, treatment needs to be sought. As stated earlier, those who are already obese often suffer from night eating disorder. The syndrome causes an additional weight gain and may lead to the onset of type 2 diabetes. This is why it's so important to get a proper medical diagnosis.
While medication that adjusts hormone levels often helps alleviate the symptoms of night eating disorder, other types of treatments are also available. For example, a patient may be given a prescription for medications that alleviate stress and anxiety. The physician will most certainly advise the patient to limit or eliminate his intake of alcohol and caffeine. Of course, this is good advice for just about anyone, even though it can be difficult to break a habit of having a cup of coffee first thing in the morning or a cup of tea in the middle of the afternoon. Counseling and therapy may also help patients with night eating disorder overcome the syndrome. Patients can be taught techniques for releasing pent-up stress and anxiety that doesn't include food.
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