Night Eating Syndrome is an eating disorder where the affected individual wakes multiple times during the night and is unable to fall back asleep unless they eat something. Foods eaten during the binge are often high caloric in content and unhealthy. The night eating behavior seems totally beyond the effected individual's control. For these individuals, 35% or more of their calories are eaten after dinnertime. Following the night binge, the person is often not hungry in the morning. Individuals suffering from Night Eating Syndrome are often caught in the vicious cycle of binge eating during the night and eating less during the day.

The triggers for Night Eating Syndrome include depression, anxiety, interpersonal stressors, boredom, prolonged dieting, and body image dissatisfaction. Night eating may temporarily relieve the stress of these unwanted feelings, but for the night eater these episodes are unfortunately followed by feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and further depression. For the person suffering from Night Eating Syndrome, the eating disorder episodes usually occur in secret and any evidence is often hidden from others. Similar to Anorexics, Bulimics, and Compulsive Overeaters, individuals suffering from Night Eating Syndrome are often struggling and unhappy with their weight.

It is estimated that up to one percent of the population may be suffering from Night Eating Syndrome. Like other eating disorders such as  Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Compulsive Overeating, Night Eating Syndrome is a disease and cannot be cured with willpower alone.