When we think about food-related behaviors in eating disorders, we often focus on the “what” and the “how.” What are they eating? Is it too much, too little, too little variety? And how are they eating? Have they adopted rituals around food, do they eat in secret, do they lose control when they eat? But one important factor that tends to get ignored is the when.

When someone eats (or doesn’t eat) can be a sign of an eating disorder, and can perpetuate certain disordered patterns. For a lot of people with eating disorders, this shows up as restricting food during the first part of the day, and eating all or the majority of their calories later in the day or at nighttime. Read on to learn more about why many people with eating disorders develop this eating pattern, what conditions it’s associated with, why it can be harmful, and how to stop.

What does night eating (or only eating later in the day) look like?

Only eating later in the day is exactly what it sounds like. The specifics will look different from person to person, but the general pattern remains the same: those with eating disorders often skip breakfast, and may eat nothing or very little throughout the rest of the day. Then, as evening approaches, they allow themselves to eat. For some people, this might mean a binge; for others, it may mean eating a relatively small amount of food that still accounts for most of their daily intake.

It’s also worth noting that there is a specific eating disorder characterized by this pattern, known as night eating syndrome (NES). NES is a type of other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED), and it’s defined by excessive food intake in the evening or nighttime. This means consuming at least 25% of a person’s daily calories after dinner, and waking up throughout the night to eat. However, many people with other eating disorders tend to eat only or mostly later in the day without meeting the criteria for NES.

What causes some people with eating disorders to only eat later in the day?

There are a number of different reasons why people with eating disorders develop this eating pattern. “Eating predominately at night is a common symptom in eating disorders because it can reflect a combination of physiological, psychological, and behavioral factors tied to the disorder’s underlying dynamics,” says Adriana Lindenfeld, a therapist at Equip. “From a physiological standpoint, irregular eating patterns or prolonged restriction during the day can disrupt hunger and fullness cues, leading to increased cravings and overconsumption later in the day.” (This underscores the notion that most, if not all, eating disorders are rooted in restriction.)

On a psychological level, Lidenfeld explains, nighttime eating can be a response to distressing emotions, like stress, anxiety, and loneliness. “The evening hours—often quieter and less structured—can create a vulnerable window for compulsive eating, especially if restriction or emotional suppression occurred earlier in the day,” she says. This nighttime eating, in turn, reinforces feelings of shame and keeps the cycle of disordered eating going.

People with restrictive eating disorders like anorexia might “save” calories for later in the day as a way to exert some control, both over their food intake and their emotional state. “Eating later in the day might reflect an attempt to delay or minimize caloric intake as long as possible, potentially as a way to ‘earn’ the right to eat,” says Lidenfeld. “This pattern might also reflect rigid, ritualized eating behaviors or avoidance of eating in social settings.” She points out that it can also be a way of managing anxiety, or avoiding feelings of guilt that they know they would feel after eating earlier in the day.

In some cases, hormonal imbalances that throw off a person’s hunger and fullness cues can also play a role.

What eating disorders are associated with eating only (or mostly) later in the day?

Lidenfeld says that eating only (or mostly) later in the day can be a symptom of a number of different eating disorders, including binge eating disorder (BED), anorexia, and bulimia.

“Although not exclusive to nighttime, BED often involves episodes of consuming large quantities of food during the evening hours, especially if the person has restricted their intake earlier in the day,” she says. Research also demonstrates this pattern: in a study of people with BED, researchers found that breakfast was the least commonly consumed meal, with dinner being the most common meal and evening the most common time for snacking.

As mentioned above, people with anorexia might eat primarily at night to minimize overall caloric intake. Night eating can also be a symptom of bulimia, Lidenfeld says: “While binge episodes in bulimia can occur at any time, they often happen at night due to emotional triggers, physical hunger following restriction, or feelings of isolation.”

Could eating only at night be a sign of something besides an eating disorder?

Of course, people might eat only or mostly later in the day for reasons besides an eating disorder. For instance, Lidenfeld says, disrupted sleep patterns or emotional distress (which can trigger emotional eating) might play a role.

Diet culture can also be a factor. Unfortunately, it’s extremely common for people without eating disorders to adopt pretty disordered eating habits in an attempt to lose weight, look a certain way, or meet certain “healthy” standards around diet or fitness. One prime example is intermittent fasting, which might be appropriate for some people for a certain amount of time, but often does more harm than good (and may eventually lead to an eating disorder).

A lot of people who don’t intermittently fast formally do engage in calorie “banking,” or restricting food during the day to “save up” calories for later. This type of behavior is pretty common among dieters, and even those who aren’t on a diet might “bank” calories if they know they’re going to have a large meal or go out to eat later in the day.

Negative consequences and risks of eating only late in the day

Eating only (or mostly) at nighttime can have negative effects on a person’s physical and mental health, as well as their relationships and quality of life, regardless of whether or not they have an eating disorder.

“Physically, nighttime eating disrupts the body’s natural circadian rhythm, which governs digestion and metabolism,” Lidenfeld explains. “Consuming large amounts of food late at night can lead to gastrointestinal issues, and increased risk of conditions like insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.” She adds that it can affect sleep quality, because your body’s efforts to digest all that food can make it tough to fall or stay asleep.

In terms of psychological impact, Lidenfeld notes that nighttime eating is often associated with feelings of shame, guilt, and loss of control, which can amplify anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Only eating later in the day can also impact social functioning, as people might avoid situations during the day that involve eating. This can contribute to social isolation and hurt relationships, which can worsen the other negative psychological effects of nighttime eating.

“Over time, these patterns can disrupt metabolism, perpetuate guilt and shame cycles, and exacerbate the psychological and physical toll of an eating disorder,” says Lidenfeld.

How is night eating addressed in eating disorder treatment?

According to Lidenfeld, addressing this pattern of eating involves a multidisciplinary approach that targets the behavioral, psychological, and physiological factors contributing to the behavior. “A key focus is restoring regular eating patterns throughout the day to regulate hunger and satiety cues,” she says. “This often involves structured meal planning with the guidance of a registered dietitian, encouraging balanced meals and snacks spaced evenly to prevent daytime restriction, which can lead to nighttime eating.”

Treatment might also include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to address distorted thoughts and feelings that tend to lead to nighttime eating, as well as helping people develop healthier coping strategies for dealing with triggers and distressing emotions.

What to do if you or a loved one is struggling with eating only later in the day

If you find that you’re eating all (or the majority of) your food in the evening and are restricting throughout the day, or have noticed someone in your life doing this, it could signal an eating disorder. And even if an eating disorder isn’t the underlying cause, eating only at night can be harmful to your mental and physical health, as well as your relationships and quality of life.

Either way, it’s important to reach out for support. Talk with your doctor or an eating disorder-informed dietitian about your concerns, and they can guide you toward resources and strategies to help shift this behavior. You can also schedule a consultation with the Equip team to talk through your concerns and what treatment options are available.