Just recently i've heard more and more about night eating syndrome. First, in oprah mag, then in several other places. I've never heard of this problem being classified before. It's not yet an official eating disorder but it is a problem for many people.
I find this topic very interesting and personal to me. If anyone is interested, i've written alot of details about this disorder next. Here is a quote I found on diagnose me.Com that provides some insight into this-
"nes has been linked to hormone imbalances; high cortisol, low melatonin and leptin may make things worse. Leptin, the 'hunger hormone' which rises at night to suppress appetite, was also lower in the nes patients, partly explaining their nocturnal food cravings. This "distinctive neuroendocrine pattern" in individuals with nes may provide the key to more successful treatment, said the researchers. Therapy to increase the natural nocturnal rise in melatonin, reduce the body's adrenal stress response and raise leptin levels or improve leptin sensitivity are options that may help these patients overcome the disorder. Another key may involve the availability of tryptophan, an important amino acid, in the body. More than 70% of the nighttime eating to combat anxiety involved binging on carbohydrates. These foods are believed to increase the amount of tryptophan available for conversion to serotonin, the calming neurotransmitter in the brain that promotes an overall sense of well-being and, in turn, converts to melatonin.
Note: addressing hormonal and biochemical imbalances in patients with chronic eating and mood disorders can be crucial for uncovering fundamental causes and contributing factors that underlie cyclical, habitual patterns of insomnia, overeating, and depression. "

so, treatment involves increasing melatonin intake, and somehow increasing the leptin in our bodies, and decreasing bodily cortisol.
Has anyone heard of that diet supplement "cortisol" or something? It is supposed to decrease your cortisol. And as for increasing leptin, how would that be possible? Let me know if anyone finds out anything else. Thanks, candifer