Finding an effective treatment for Night Eating Syndrome is a work in progress. NES is associated with a malfunction in the neuroendocrine system. Therapy for NES is typically a combination of therapy, medication, and practicing self-control and self-awareness. Finding ways to reduce the experience of stress may be important to eliminating deviant eating patterns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
During therapy sessions, the patient is assisted in becoming familiar with situations and feelings that trigger the eating patterns. In addition, the therapist will help the patient find healthy alternatives to those eating behaviors. For example, if the patient realizes that his trouble time is around 9PM, then maybe he will try to schedule an outing or tackle a project that will distract him from eating.

Food Diary
Keeping a track of when and what you are eating is useful in increasing awareness. This is a common practice that people who are trying to lose weight use. It really puts things in perspective and makes you think about what you are doing. This makes it easier to practice self-control.

Medications
Anti-depressants with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) are being tested as a possible treatment for NES. This can elevate the mood and make people less likely to practice emotional eating. They also facilitate sleep.

Diet
Doctors might recommend a special diet high in tryptophan (turkey; peanut butter), an amino acid that helps to induce sleep. So that’s why people fall asleep after eating on Thanksgiving.