Resumen

ELLENBERG, Clementina et al. Síndrome de comedor nocturno: un nuevo trastorno de la conducta alimentaria. An Venez Nutr [online]. 2006, vol.19, n.1, pp.32-37. ISSN 0798-0752.

Abstract Bulimia and Anorexia are the classic eating disorders due to pathologic alterations of eating behavior like fasting, extreme dieting or compulsive eating. The night eating syndrome (NES) is an entity that characterizes itself by these alterations added to variations in the sleeping pattern. Several studies show the fact, that at a higher body mass index, a higher incidence of the syndrome, one of the reasons to consider obesity as an eating disorder. The three main signs of NES are: morning anorexia, nocturnal overeating and insomnia with alteration of the neuroendocrine pattern (Hyphotalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, cortisol, melatonin, leptin) which has a principal role modulating some metabolic and psychological functions. The exacerbation of the symptoms coincides with weight gaining periods and stress episodes. There are four types of night eaters: the compulsive evening and nightime overeater, the anxious/ agitated night eater, the cravings night eater, the all or nothing belief about sleep night eater. The differential diagnoses are bulimia, compulsive eater and nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder. All of the above are relevant to consider in the nutrition assessment of the patient, specially because of the failure in the short and long treatment of the obese patient. The aim of this article is to present the characteristics of the night eating syndrome, to diagnose it and obtain the expected results due to treatment.

Palabras clave : Night eater; obesity; eating behavior; patterns neuroendocrine.