If you find yourself craving midnight snacks every single night for months, it may be time to consider whether it's more than just a simple habit—it could be "night eating syndrome."
According to the medical community on August 18, repeated late-night eating goes beyond simply seeking pleasure and requires caution as it may be "night eating syndrome," a condition needing treatment.
First reported in academic circles in 1955, night eating syndrome is now listed as a type of eating disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) of the American Psychiatric Association.
It appears in about 1.5% of the general population and occurs in about 1 out of 10 people with obesity.
Night eating syndrome can be suspected if a person consumes more than 25% of their total daily caloric intake after dinner, or wakes up to eat at least twice a week, and these behaviors persist for three months or longer.
It is unwise to simplify night eating syndrome as mere gluttony or a lack of willpower.
Professor Park Hyoung-jun of Samsung Medical Center's Department of Family Medicine explained, "Reaching for food every night is not due to a weak will, but rather an urgent signal from the body created by stress and hormonal changes."
The body, stressed throughout the day, secretes the stress hormone "cortisol" to endure it. If these levels remain consistently high, the brain seeks "serotonin," the so-called happy hormone, to alleviate stress.
Because carbohydrates and sugary foods stimulate serotonin secretion the fastest, people naturally reach for sweet, salty, and greasy foods.
Furthermore, when the balance between "leptin," which induces a feeling of fullness, and "ghrelin," which stimulates appetite, collapses, the appetite grows abnormally large, leading to nighttime binge eating.
The real problem with night eating syndrome is that repeated late-night eating goes beyond temporary weight gain.
Eating late and lying down immediately can cause stomach acid to flow backward, leading to reflux esophagitis.
The digestive work that the stomach performs throughout the night can also interfere with deep sleep.
Poor sleep quality leads to accumulated fatigue the next day, and that fatigue triggers extreme stress and hormonal imbalances once again, creating a vicious cycle that drives people to seek food at night.
The accumulation of visceral and abdominal fat, along with various obesity-related complications, are also factors that require caution.
Night eating syndrome cannot be solved simply by suppressing the urge.
When hungry, it is recommended to first drink a glass of water to check if it is false hunger. If hunger persists, choosing foods that are gentle on the stomach, such as warm milk or a small amount of nuts, is advisable.
Above all, developing habits such as eating three regular meals a day while keeping dinner light, and finishing meals at least 2 to 3 hours before bedtime, can be helpful.
Professor Park advised, "Rather than simply telling yourself not to eat, it is important to find your own ways to relieve stress other than using late-night snacks. Restoring your biological rhythm through regular meals, exercise, and a consistent bedtime is the best way to overcome night eating syndrome."
(Photo courtesy of Samsung Medical Center, Yonhap News)
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