More girls than boys feel hungry at midnight… is this normal or a disease?

If you suddenly wake up at two or three o’clock in the night and the first thing that comes to your mind is eating, then most people consider it a minor thing and ignore it. Many people jokingly say that having midnight cravings is completely normal. But doctors say that it cannot be considered normal that this happens every time. If a person often feels hungry in the middle of the night, cannot sleep again without eating anything or has become a habit of eating more than necessary every night, then this can also be a warning from the body.

This is not only a sign of bad eating habits but in some cases it can be a sign of a condition called Night Eating Syndrome (NES). This is an eating disorder in which a person eats a large part of his daily calories in the evening or at night and sometimes eats food even after waking up from sleep. If this problem is ignored for a long time, it can affect sleep, mental health, weight and metabolism.

Not only hunger but also stress is the reason

Recent reports and scientific studies on this topic have also drawn attention to this. Doctors say that frequent hunger at night is not only a stomach related matter, but it can also be related to the body’s circadian rhythm, hormones, stress and mental health. A study in Scientific Reports (Nature Portfolio) found that there may be a link between the habit of eating late at night and mental health.

By what signs should we understand that this is not normal appetite?

• Waking up repeatedly at night and having the desire to eat.
• Not being able to sleep again without eating anything.
• Eating more calories in the evening or night than during the day.
• Loss of appetite in the morning or skipping breakfast.

According to doctors, these symptoms do not always mean that the person has night eating syndrome, but if these habits persist for a long time then investigation should be done. This condition has also been found to be associated with stress, anxiety, depression and poor sleep.

should be taken seriously

Health experts say that if a person has to get up and eat at night several times a week, does not feel hungry in the morning and has a habit of eating more at night than during the day, then it should be taken seriously. Although occasionally feeling hungry late at night may be normal, when it becomes a daily habit and starts affecting the lifestyle, then it is important to consult a doctor.

What is Night Eating Syndrome?

Night eating syndrome (NES) is considered an eating disorder. In this, a person eats a major part of his daily calories at night. Many people wake up in the middle of the night and feel that they will not be able to sleep again without eating something. It is not just a matter of hunger, but disturbances in the body’s biological clock and eating time can also be the reason for this. In this problem, a person often does not feel hungry in the morning, but as the evening approaches, the desire to eat starts increasing. Many times people ignore it considering it to be just late night snacking, whereas its continuous occurrence can be a sign of the need for treatment.

Why is it seen more in girls?

Night Eating Syndrome is a condition in which a person wakes up repeatedly at night to eat or a major part of his daily calories is consumed in the evening and night. In some research, it has been found that this problem is seen slightly more in women than in men, although it is not limited to women only. The biggest reason behind this could be hormonal changes. During menstruation, pregnancy and menopause, hormones such as estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, which can affect both appetite and sleep.

Apart from this, problems of stress, anxiety and depression are seen relatively more in women, which are believed to be directly related to NES. Many women start eating more under stress or emotional pressure, which is called emotional eating. It is also clear that being a woman is not in itself a cause of NES. Poor sleep, irregular eating habits, prolonged dieting, staying up late at night and mental health problems can increase the risk of this disorder in any person. Therefore, if waking up repeatedly at night to eat becomes a habit, it is important to consult a doctor.

What could be the reasons behind this?

There can be many reasons behind feeling hungry again and again at night. If adequate and balanced food is not eaten throughout the day or dinner is eaten too early or in small quantities, one may feel hungry before sleeping. Apart from this, mental conditions like staying awake till late night, stress, anxiety or depression can also increase appetite. Poor sleep or irregular sleep schedule affects the body’s circadian rhythm (biological clock), which can lead to imbalance of appetite controlling hormones. In some people, hormonal changes can also cause increased hunger at night. This is why doctors not only look at eating habits, but also evaluate the entire lifestyle and mental health of the person.

What is scientific study?

According to a study, a relationship was observed between the habit of eating late at night and mental health. Researchers believe that eating at irregular times can affect the body’s natural biological clock. This can affect sleep, mood and metabolism. However, it also clarified that its causes can be different in every person and the disease cannot be concluded just by feeling hungry at night.

What do experts say?

According to Harvard-trained AIIMS gastroenterologist Dr Saurabh Sethi, the strong desire to eat chocolate or sweets after 1011 pm is not just a habit, but an effect of the biological process of the body. At night the reward system of the brain becomes more active and self-control begins to weaken. If there is insufficient sleep, ghrelin (hormone that increases hunger) increases and leptin (hormone that signals fullness) decreases. This is the reason why eating sweets and high-calorie food seems more attractive late at night.

How to stop midnight hunger?

Dr. advises to sleep on time to reduce late night cravings, stay away from mobile and other screens about an hour before sleeping, include protein and fiber in dinner and keep bright lights to a minimum in the evening. This improves the circadian rhythm of the body and may reduce the desire to eat frequently late at night. However, in some conditions people may also need doctor’s advice and examination.