Night Eating Research Articles

Prevalence and Associations of Night Eating Syndrome Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia.

Medical students often experience elevated stress levels and disrupted sleep patterns, increasing the risk of developing Night Eating Syndrome (NES). Depression is prevalent among medical students, further emphasizing the need for investigation. This study aims to explore the occurrence of NES and its associated factors, primarily focusing on depression, among medical students at a university in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study involving medical students, participants completed a self-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic details, the Night Eating Syndrome Questionnaire (NEQ) with 14 items, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) for depression screening. The study involved 300 medical students, reflecting a diverse sample with an average age of 21.4 ± 1.9 years and a well-balanced distribution across academic years. Notably, 41 participants (13.7%) were identified as obese. Depression, as determined by PHQ-2 scores exceeding 3, was prevalent in 159 students (53.0%). A multivariable logistic regression analysis uncovered a significant independent association, revealing that being a second-year medical student was linked to depressive health conditions (odds ratio [OR]: 3.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24-10.10, p = 0.02). Exploring NES, 22 students (7.3%) scored above the NEQ threshold of 25, indicating its presence. Intriguingly, multivariable logistic regression illustrated that the sole independent factor associated with NES was the presence of depression (OR: 4.4, CI: 1.4-13.2, p = 0.01). The overall prevalence of NES was 7.3%, and it was found to be associated with depression in medical students. Additionally, being a second-year medical student was independently associated with depression. These findings underscore the importance of addressing mental health issues, including NES and depression, in medical students, particularly during the early stages of their training.

The Interrelationship of Eating Behaviors in Overweight and Obese Adults

Objective: Nutrition is a complex behavior influenced by both homeostatic and non-homeostatic processes. Emotional and environmental triggers can affect non-homeostatic processes, leading to hedonistic, emotional, and night eating. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hedonistic eating, emotional eating, and night eating syndrome in overweight and obese adults. Materials and Methods: A total of 562 overweight and obese adults participated in the study. The data were collected using a general information and anthropometric measurements form, the Hedonistic Eating Scale (HES), the Emotional Eater Questionnaire (EEQ), and the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ). Results: Results showed that 8.2% of participants had emotional eating syndrome, and 25.6% had night eating syndrome. Obese participants were found to have higher rates of emotional eating and night eating syndrome than overweight participants. There were positive correlations between EEQ with HES (r=0.468, p

Beat the Clock: Assessment of Night Eating Syndrome and Circadian Rhythm in a Sample of Greek Adults.

The night eating syndrome (NES) is characterized by excessive food intake during the evening and night hours, with 25% of the daily intake being consumed post-dinner, paired with ep-isodes of nocturnal food intake, at a frequency of more than twice weekly. The NES has been associated with a misaligned circadian rhythm related to a delay in overall food intake, increased energy and fat consumption. The present cross-sectional study aimed to assess NES in a Greek population and evaluate possible links between NES and chronotype. NES was assessed using the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), and circadian rhythm, sleep and mood were evaluated with the Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Mood (SCRAM) questionnaire. A total of 533 adults participated in the study. A relatively high prevalence of NES was revealed, with more than 8.1% (NEQ ≥ 30) of the participants reporting experiencing NES symptoms, depending on the NEQ threshold used. Most participants had the intermediate chronotype. NEQ score was positively associated with the morning chronotype, and SCRAM was negatively related to "Good Sleep". Each point increment in the depression score was associated with 6% higher odds of NES. The early identification of NES gains importance in clinical practice, in a collective effort aiming to reduce NES symptomatology and its detrimental health effects.

The Dark and Comforting Side of Night Eating: Women’s Experiences of Trauma

Objectives: Night eating syndrome (NES) is classified as a delay of food intake, reflected by consuming large amounts after the evening meal or ingesting food after sleep onset (DSM-5). This article aims to describe NES experience, awareness, narratives, and behavior from the perspectives of patients with NES in light of their history of traumatic life events. Method: Semi-structured interviews based on the phenomenological approach were conducted with 18 women (aged 19–60) diagnosed with NES. Results: The analysis raised two themes: 1. References to NES as an experience that represents the darker sides of patients’ behaviors and involves helplessness, contempt, self-loathing, and a loss of control. Patients also related to difficult memories concerning sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. 2. References to the comforting side of NES patients’ behaviors that involves soothing, regulating, emotional disconnecting, and a sense of calm, control, and the ability to function. Conclusion: Findings present the relationship between traumatic life events, dissociation, and EDs. Clinically, they highlight the importance of an early assessment and a traumatic life history and suggest giving special treatment attention to the role of dissociation and night eating as regulatory mechanisms in the therapeutic process and alliance.

Ishrana radnika koji rade u noćnoj smeni - razlog ili izgovor za nepravilnu ishranu

The availability of artificial light and light-emitting devices has changed human life in relation to time, enabling 24-hour health care, trade, and production, as well as the expansion of social life around the clock. In Europe, about 21% of the labor force consists of shift workers. 10% of the employed population work evening shifts or the night shift, and 7% of employees in Europe regularly work the night shift. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 15 million Americans work the night shift. Shift work, especially night-time work, seriously affects dietary habits. It is known that night-time work produces a conflict between the socially determined rhythm of eating and the circadian biological rhythms related to the feeling of hunger, satiety, as well as the metabolism itself. Night meals cause disorders of intestinal motility, affect digestion, absorption, but also the utilization of nutrients and possible medical therapy (if the individual has one). From the point of view of chronobiology, humans belong to diurnal species, which to a certain extent explains why night shift workers have a decreased appetite at night, when the human body is programmed for rest and fasting, as well as for endogenous mobilization of glucose. From the psychosocial aspect, shift workers usually experience a discrepancy between their daily routines (including the meal schedule) and those they have with family and friends, which further leads to even more severe disorders of dietary habits. However, it is difficult to give dietary recommendations regarding nutrition. Firstly, there are no clear views on whether night shift workers should eat during the night hours or not. Secondly, even if night eating is encouraged, definitive evidence is lacking on which types of food should be consumed and which should be avoided. Thirdly, the most nutritious foods may not be available at that time of night. Finally, eating at night certainly has an impact on the metabolism. With all the above in mind, we have tried to provide some useful guidelines regarding these issues.

Prevalence and Correlates of Night Eating Syndrome, Insomnia, and Psychological Distress in Primary Care Patients with Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study

Plain Language SummaryDespite the increasing interest in combating obesity, its prevalence is increasing worldwide. The success of available management modalities for obesity is often complicated by mental health, eating, and sleeping disorders. Night eating syndrome is a unique eating disorder characterized by excessive calorie intake at night that exceeds one-quarter of the total daily calorie consumption. We conducted a study on 425 individuals with obesity from five healthcare centers in Port Said, Egypt to evaluate the extent and associated factors of night eating syndrome, insomnia, and psychological distress among people with obesity. We found that around one in five individuals with obesity suffered from night eating syndrome or psychological distress, and one in six individuals with obesity had symptoms of insomnia. Notably, night eating syndrome, insomnia, and psychological distress were interrelated. Moreover, fatty liver occurred more frequently in patients with obesity who had night eating syndrome or insomnia highlighting the importance of maintaining circadian rhythms in metabolic disorders. Based on our findings, we recommend that family physicians should routinely assess dietary habits, sleeping disorders, and mental health conditions in people with obesity to enhance the success rate of obesity management in primary care.

Evaluation of Adults’ Night Eating Habits During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Amaç: Bu çalışmada COVID-19 salgını döneminde yetişkin bireylerde gece yeme alışkanlıklarının belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır.
 Gereç ve Yöntemler: Kesitsel nitelikte olan bu araştırmaya, 18-62 yaş arası 251 yetişkin birey dâhil edilmiştir. Bireylere çevrimiçi
 bir anket aracılığıyla ulaşılmıştır. Anket formu ile tanımlayıcı özellikler, öğün tüketimleri, beslenme alışkanlıklarındaki değişiklikler
 ve antropometrik ölçümleri (vücut ağırlığı, boy uzunluğu) sorgulanmıştır. Bireylerin gece yeme alışkanlıkları Gece Yeme Anketi ile
 değerlendirilmiştir. Verilerin analizinde IBM SPSS 21.0 istatistik programı kullanılmıştır ve p< 0,05 istatistiksel olarak anlamlı kabul
 edilmiştir.
 Bulgular: Bireylerin %15,1’ inde gece yeme sendromu belirlenmiştir. COVID-19 salgını döneminde işlenmiş et ürünü, ev yapımı hamur
 işi, şekerli besinler, ambalajlı ürünler ve şekerli-gazlı içecek tüketimini artıran bireylerin Gece Yeme Anketi puanı yüksektir (sırası ile
 p=0,002, p=0,019, p

Disordered Eating in Young Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was the most prevalent endocrine disorder among women. Weight issues were commonly observed and found to be associated with comorbidities. This study aimed to compare Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) scores and Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) scores in patients with and without PCOS and analyze the factors associated with disordered eating. Women aged 18-25years with and without PCOS (n = 110 for each group) were included in the study. All patients completed the EDE-Q, NEQ, Beck Anxiety, and Beck Depression inventories. Disordered eating was found more frequently in women with PCOS than in controls (25.5% vs. 2.7%, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in NEQ scores between the two groups. Anxiety and depression scores were higher in patients with PCOS than in controls (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively). PCOS diagnosis (OR: 7.4, CI: [1.63-33.7]; p = 0.010) and high BMI (OR: 1.24, CI: [1.10-1.39]; p < 0.001) were found to be independent factors for disordered eating (EDE-Q global score ≥ 4). Disordered eating was more common in young women with PCOS compared to the control group. PCOS diagnosis and having a high BMI (> 25) were found to be independent factors related to disordered eating in young women with PCOS. Young women with a high BMI or PCOS appear to be at a higher risk of disordered eating than women of the same age. Scanning this group may help clinicians in identifying women at high risk for eating disorders and preventing comorbidities associated with them.

The Relationship Among Seasonality, Night Eating, and Chronotype in Bipolar Disorder: Exploring the Mediating Role of Sleep Quality.

The purpose of the study was to explore the association among chronotype, seasonality, sleep quality, and night eating syndrome (NES) among patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and the mediating role of sleep quality in this relationship. Ninety-two individuals with BD type 1 who had been euthymic for at least 8 weeks and 87 healthy controls were included. In addition to sociodemographic/clinical data, chronotype, seasonality, sleep quality, and NES were evaluated using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Night Eating Questionnaire. The prevalence of NES (17.4%) was higher among BD than the controls. BD patients with NES had poorer sleep quality, greater seasonality, and lower MEQ scores. Chronotype had an indirect effect that was partially mediated by sleep quality on night eating symptoms in BD patients, in addition to a direct effect. Seasonality was found to have a direct effect on night eating symptoms. Therapeutic interventions that target both sleep and circadian disruption should be implemented when addressing NES in patients with BD.

Risk of positive screening for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and night eating syndrome and associated risk factors in medical fellows in Northeastern Mexico: a multicenter study

BackgroundEating disorders and food ingestion (EDs) are serious mental illnesses with a higher prevalence in young adults, with difficult diagnoses that cause serious morbidity and mortality problems. There is not much information about the risk of positive screening for EDs, specifically, anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) and night eating syndrome (NES) in undergraduate medical interns (UMI) and medical residents (MR) in Mexico.AimTo determine the risk of AN, BN and NES and to determine the risk factors of such conditions such as age, body mass index (BMI) and gender of MR and UMI with AN/BN and NES at four private hospitals in northeastern Mexico.MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive, non-randomized survey in MR and UMI in four hospitals in Northeastern Mexico was conducted using an electronic questionnaire that included: informed consent signature, SCOFF questionnaire for AN and BN screening, NES questionnaire. Also, a survey on general sociodemographic data of each participant was included. Chi-square test and a logistic regression model were computed for analyses.ResultsThe population included a total of 129 MR and UMI. It was observed that 48.8% were positive for AN or BN and 32.6% were positive for the NES. There was no difference between age, sex, BMI, or medical specialty (if they were MR); however, MR from the first year had a higher risk of AN or BN (OR 23.7, 95% CI 1.181–475.266).ConclusionsThere was a higher risk of positive screening for AN or BN and NES in UMI and MR in our population. In the case of MR, those in first year have a higher risk of AN and BN. Timely diagnosis and treatment are mandatory in this population.

Obesity and eating disorders: an interactive and complex coexistence

Obesity is the medical condition most frequently observed in people with eating disorders. It often coexists with binge-eating disorder and with some cases of bulimia nervosa, night eating syndrome, and atypical anorexia nervosa. Obesity can precede the onset of eating disorders, sometimes representing a risk factor for their onset, or can be in part the consequence of recurrent binge-eating episodes. Eating disorders and obesity, when they coexist, tend to interact negatively with each other and make treatment more problematic. Weight loss is always contraindicated when obesity coexists with bulimia nervosa and atypical anorexia nervosa. Still, it is not contraindicated when it coexists with binge-eating disorder or night eating syndrome. However, the weight loss outcome with current treatments is often unsatisfactory. A potential strategy to improve this poor outcome is an integrated treatment combining the new incretin-based medications for the treatment of obesity with enhanced cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) of binge-eating disorder and CBT of obesity.

Eating disorders among bariatric surgery patients: The chicken or the egg?

Postoperative eating behaviors and unhealthy weight control measures are leading causes of bariatric surgery complications. Candidates for bariatric surgery and individuals with eating disorders may share common risk factors, such as a history of dieting, and/or being bullied or teased for their weight. Binge-eating disorder, night eating syndrome, and bulimia nervosa are the most common eating disorders among candidates for bariatric surgery before the operation. Malnutrition, stress, and intense fear of weight gain can lead to the development of an eating disorder after surgery as well. Plugging, grazing, loss of control eating, dumping, and food avoidance are specific disordered behaviors that may present after bariatric surgery. To improve physical and psychological outcomes for individuals under their care, clinicians can screen for these disordered behaviors and distinguish them from a healthy diet and the expected postsurgical course.

Association of Chrononutrition Indices with Anthropometric Parameters, Academic Performance, and Psychoemotional State of Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Adolescents are an at-risk group for circadian misalignment. The contribution of sleep-wake rhythm instability to the psychoemotional, cognitive, and weight disorders of adolescents has been studied in sufficient detail. At the same time, there is insufficient information about the association between chrononutrition indices and the well-being of adolescents. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between chrononutrition indices and academic achievement, psychoemotional state, and anthropometric indicators in adolescents. The study involved 12,759 students in grades 6-11 of secondary schools, aged 14.2 ± 1.7 years old; 57.2% of whom were girls. Participants provided personal data, frequency and time of meals during the day and at night, on weekdays and weekends, and completed the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale and the Yale Food Addiction Scale. There is a U-shaped association between eating mid-phase (EPFc), eating jetlag (EJL), and eating window (EW) with GPA, ZSDSI, and FA. At the same time, the frequency of night eating (NE) is linearly associated with the studied parameters. NE is the strongest predictor of ZSDSI (β = 0.24), FA (β = 0.04), and GPA (β = -0.22). EPFc, EJL, and EW practically do not differ in the strength of their association with the studied indicators. ZSDSI is most closely associated with the chrononutrition indices. There is a weak negative association between BMI and EW (β = -0.03) and NE (β = -0.04). Thus, circadian eating disorders are more often observed in adolescents with poor academic performance, high levels of depression, and food addiction.

Chrono-nutrition and its Association with Chronotype and Blood Glucose Control Among People with Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Recent studies have revealed conflicting results for low glycaemic index (GI) meals in the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders. Diurnal variations in glucose homeostasis, which are frequently overlooked in epidemiological studies, may help to explain some of these discrepancies. Food is an external cue to entrain the circadian rhythm, and meal timing is a crucial factor for glucose homeostasis. The study examines the relationship between chrono-nutrition, chronotype, and blood glucose control among people with Type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: Chrono-nutrition questionnaire assessed eating window, breakfast skipping, evening latency, evening eating, night eating, and largest meal of patients with Type 2 diabetes. Glycaemic control was assessed using a HbA1c test, fasting blood sugar, and 2-hour post-prandial blood sugar test. Insulin resistance was assessed by fasting triglyceride glucose index (TyG). Results: There was a significant association between late dining with dysglycaemia, irrespective of GI of the meal (p&lt;0.05). Participants who had the largest meal during the active phase had better glycaemic control (p&lt;0.05). Shorter eating windows and evening latency of at least 2 hours not only aided in glycaemic control, but also gave good sleep (p&lt;0.05). Participants with the evening chronotype ate almost twice the amount of carbohydrates and fat at dinner than at breakfast. Evening chronotypes were associated with lesser servings of vegetables and fruits, and greater servings of sweets and caffeinated beverages, in comparison with morning chronotypes. Conclusions: Late diners had significantly worse blood glucose levels, irrespective of the GI of the meal. This may have public health implications, as calorie-dense meals are often consumed during late evenings, which can desynchronise the circadian rhythms. Eating meals as per the circadian rhythm could be an alternative non-pharmacological strategy to prevent diabetes and its complications.

P035 Investigating the Relationship Between Dietary Timing and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

Abstract Introduction Late night eating is associated with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and may increase obesity risk. Time Restricted Eating (TRE) involves shifting the eating window to 8-12 continuous hours per day, prompting energy intake to earlier in the day without any complex dietary prescription, and has metabolic benefits. We aimed to investigate timing of food intake in patients with OSA and assess their openness to trial TRE. Methods Adults undergoing in-laboratory diagnostic polysomnography (PSG, n=138, 67 male) completed a dietary questionnaire outlining typical eating habits, including timing of meals, frequency of getting up overnight, and frequency of eating/drinking overnight. Questionnaire responses were reviewed with demographics and PSG variables. Proportions of responses were compared across categories of OSA severity using z-tests. Results Patients with moderate/severe OSA (AHI&amp;gt;15events/h, n=77) were more likely to report getting up at night “often” or “always” compared to patients with no/mild OSA (n=61) (63.6% v 47.5%, p=0.08), more likely to report getting up multiple times (66.2% v 47.5%, p=0.04), and more likely to report eating/drinking overnight (42.9% v 18.0%, p=0.003). 71.0% of all patients indicated they would consider trying a TRE diet, and 71.7% could incorporate a TRE diet into their lifestyle. Conclusion Moderate/severe OSA is associated with an increased likelihood of getting up multiple times overnight, and getting up to eat and drink. Patients in this clinical cohort reported a willingness to trial TRE. Future research should investigate the efficacy of implementing TRE in OSA and evaluating its effect on weight loss and sleep quality.

야식섭취 및 수면의 질과 청소년 비만의 관계: 부산시 일개 중학교를 중심으로

야식섭취 및 수면의 질과 청소년 비만의 관계: 부산시 일개 중학교를 중심으로

Association of participants who screened positive for night eating syndrome with physical health, sleep problems, and weight status in an Australian adult population

BackgroundNight eating syndrome (NES) is a unique eating disorder characterised by evening hyperphagia and nocturnal ingestions which cause significant distress and/or impairment in functioning. Despite the growing literature, NES remains poorly understood and under diagnosed. As such, this study aims to compare the prevalence of physical health conditions in participants with NES when compared to participants without an eating disorder (ED) and participants with other eating disorders (including anorexia nervosa (AN), binge eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa (BN)) in a general population Australian sample of adults.MethodsThe data for this study were obtained from the 2017 Health Omnibus Survey (HOS) a multi-stage, cross-sectional survey, conducted by Harrison Research in South Australia. This current study focused on 2547 participants over 18 years of age and specific questions from this population survey including those related to participant demographics and health.ResultsThis study identified that participants who screened positive for night eating syndrome (spNES) when compared to participants with other eating disorders (ED) or no ED diagnosis, were significantly more likely to have an increased age, be female, have lower levels of education and have lower household income. Additionally, the spNES group was significantly associated with sleep apnoea (p = 0.031), insomnia or other sleep problems (p < 0.0001), increased BMI (p < 0.0001), increased levels of pain/discomfort and lower physical health-related quality of life. Hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes were not significantly associated with the spNES group or the “other ED” group which included participants with AN, BED, BN.ConclusionsSeveral physical health problems were found to be significantly associated with the spNES group including sleep problems, increased BMI, increased levels of pain and lower self-reported physical health-related quality of life. Consequently, future research exploring the complex interaction between NES and these medical conditions may provide further insight into the diagnosis, screening tools and management of NES. Additionally, this study highlights the need for future studies which use larger population-based samples.Level of evidenceLevel III. Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies.

Frequency of night eating syndrome and its relationship with impulsivity in bariatric surgery candidates

Aims: Eating attitude disorders are more common in obese individuals compared to the normal population and cause resistance to treatment. In our study, it is aimed to determine the frequency of night eating syndrome, which is an eating disorder, and to reveal its relationship with impulsivity, which is a personality trait, in bariatric surgery candidates with severe obesity . Methods: Between May 2022 and December 2022, 93 patients aged 18-65 years who were planned for bariatric surgery were applied to Balıkesir University Health Practice and Research Hospital General Surgery outpatient clinic, Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), Barratt impulsivity scale (BIS-11), Night Eating Questionnaire (ADL) were applied. Results: 69 (74.2%) of the participants were women. There was no significant difference between genders in terms of ADL scores (p=0.683). h Night eating syndrome was detected in one third of the patients. (N=31). Barratt -not planning and total scale scores of patients with an ADL score above 25 were found to be higher than those with an ADL score of 25 and below (p=0.010, p=0.044, respectively). Conclusion: Considering that night eating syndrome is associated with one third of obesity and it is associated with impulsivity, addressing the impulsivity of individuals with overeating in cognitive behavioral therapy before the operation will contribute to the success of the treatment.

EFFECT OF LATE-NIGHT EATING ON HEALTH: A SURVEY FROM UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Late night eating is characterized by eating after 10 pm or eating 2 hours before sleep at least 3 times per week, it is also characterized by the number of late-night eating episodes and the proportion of total daily calories consumed during the eating episode. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between late-night eating habits and various health issues among individuals from multiple universities in Pakistan. Data was collected from over 15 universities, including the University of Lahore, Comsats University, Bahria University, Punjab University, Karachi University, and de Montmorency College of Dentistry. A non-probability convenient sampling technique was employed to select more than 150 participants for data collection. Participants were evaluated using a pre-tested questionnaire. Dietary choices, circadian rhythms, psychological stress, and social influences are just a few of the things that have an impact on late-night eating habits and the health problems that go along with them. The results of the study indicated that a significant proportion of the participants experienced health issues as a result of their late-night eating habits. Among the observed health issues, headache was the most prevalent, affecting 75% of the participants, followed by sleep disorders (66%), depression (63%), and acidity (59%). In contrast, a lower percentage of individuals reported issues such as diarrhea (29%), vomiting (25%), and piles (21%). For late night eating, majority of the participants approximately 95 % were preferring consuming meals, fried foods and confectionary items for late night snacking and the least consumption was observed of corn and popcorn that accounted for 60 %.and 57 % respectively. It was concluded that late night eating is associated with many digestive, metabolic and psychological issues that have a negative impact on overall health of an individual. The increase in frequency and size of late-night eating in adolescence and adulthood will lead them towards an unhealthy aging.

Rethinking the Role of Orexin in the Regulation of REM Sleep and Appetite.

Orexin plays a significant role in the modulation of REM sleep, as well as in the regulation of appetite and feeding. This review explores, first, the current evidence on the role of orexin in the modulation of sleep and wakefulness and highlights that orexin should be considered essentially as a neurotransmitter inhibiting REM sleep and, to a much lesser extent, a wake promoting agent. Subsequently, the relationship between orexin, REM sleep, and appetite regulation is examined in detail, shedding light on their interconnected nature in both physiological conditions and diseases (such as narcolepsy, sleep-related eating disorder, idiopathic hypersomnia, and night eating syndrome). Understanding the intricate relationship between orexin, REM sleep, and appetite regulation is vital for unraveling the complex mechanisms underlying sleep-wake patterns and metabolic control. Further research in this field is encouraged in order to pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches to sleep disorders and metabolic conditions associated with orexin dysregulation.