Treatment of Night eating syndrome

Medical interview and examination
Treatment starts with a medical interview as well as spending a night or two in a good sleep. Patient should be scheduled for a complete physical exam and also an evaluation with a counselor experienced in the treatment of eating disorders and sleep disorders.

Making a good diet plan
A qualified dietitian can help develop meal plans that distribute the food intake more evenly throughout the day so that a patient is not so vulnerable to caloric loading in the evening.

Evaluation in a sleep laboratory
Several researches have proven that evaluation in a sleep laboratory could be worthwhile. The problem is that it is not yet clear whether night eating is an eating disorder, sleep disorder or both.
In these laboratories the sleep patterns are monitored for a whole night and so that any abnormalities may be evaluated.

Medications
Although medications are sometimes helpful, patients should avoid taking sleeping pills because they can aggravate sleep disorder by adding to the clumsiness and confusion upon waking up and may cause them injury. Some researches have came to the conclusion that patients respond well to the treatment with the SSRI sertraline (a prescription medication).
 
Hormones and amino-acids
Therapy which has shown to be beneficial is based on next principles:

• to increase the natural nocturnal rise in melatonin,
• to reduce the body's adrenal stress response
• to raise leptin levels or improve leptin sensitivity

Some experts say that tryptophan, an important amino acid in the body, could have the major role. More than 70% of food consumed in Night eating syndrome episodes consist of carbohydrates - foods which are believed to increase the amount of tryptophan available for conversion to serotonin, the calming neurotransmitter in the brain.

Some useful Tips

• Try to eat a complete breakfast, even though may not feel hungry.
• Choose high fiber, filling foods such as salads, beans, nuts, lean meats, and whole grains for lunch.
• Have a small, but healthy meal such as soup and salad, or a bean salad and a slice of whole grain bread at the dinner time
• Refrain from desserts after dinner as much as possible, since this may restart the cycle of late night eating. Instead try to choose fruit or herbal tea after dinner if you’re still looking for something with a little sweetness.
• If you have feelings of depression, anxiety, or overwhelming stress, you should seek professional help.