Night Eating Syndrome
A condition where a person consumes a large portion of daily calories after dinner or during the night.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
Night Eating Syndrome is a condition where a person eats a large portion of their daily food after the evening meal or wakes up during the night to eat. Unlike simple late-night snacking, this pattern happens regularly and is often accompanied by morning loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping.
Medical
Clinical Definition
Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is a circadian rhythm-related eating disorder characterised by the consumption of 25% or more of daily caloric intake after the evening meal and/or nocturnal awakenings with ingestions, occurring at least twice per week. NES is associated with mood disorders, sleep disturbances, and dysregulation of leptin, ghrelin, and cortisol rhythms. It is distinct from binge eating disorder and is prevalent in 6–16% of individuals with obesity seeking treatment.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
Night Eating Syndrome can undermine even the best weight management efforts, as significant calorie intake occurs outside normal mealtimes. At Accord Medical, Dr Joseph Wang screens for eating patterns like NES to ensure the treatment plan addresses the root causes of weight gain.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: August 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.