What is Sleep Eating?

A relatively rare and little known condition that is gaining recognition in sleep medicine is sleep eating. This condition is also known as sleep-related eating (disorder), nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder or sleep-eating syndrome. A typical patient usually gets out of bed, walks to the kitchen, prepares food -- often sloppily, and often with strange, high-calorie ingredients. Patients eat in a very sloppy way, either in the kitchen or after taking the food back to bed. And they have no memory of it. They wake to find a mess in the kitchen or crumbs in the bed.

Sleep eating is characterized by sleepwalking as well as nocturnal overeating. It sometimes, but not always, strikes people with other problems, like alcoholism, diabetes or sleep disorders. People who walk in their sleep or suffer from sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome are very susceptible to this particular sleep disorder probably because of their restless sleep habits.

Sleep eaters are comparable to sleepwalkers in many ways: they are at risk for self-injury during an episode, they may experience excessive daytime sleepiness, and they are usually emotionally distressed, tired, angry or anxious. Sleep eaters are also at risk for the same health complications as compulsive overeaters, with the added dangers of sleepwalking. Common concerns include excessive weight gain, daytime sleepiness, choking while eating, sleep disruption, and injury from cooking or preparing food such as from knives, utensils or hot cooking surfaces. There is also the potential for starting a fire. Although it can affect all ages and both sexes, sleep eating is more common in young women. Recent studies indicate that about two thirds of the people who suffer from sleep eating are women.

For some people who have been diagnosed with sleep eating, interventions without the use of medications have proven helpful. Courses on stress management, group or one-on-one counseling with a therapist or self-confidence training may lighten the stress and anxiety that leads to nighttime binging. Although considered an alternative treatment, hypnosis may be an option for some sleep eaters. Sleep eaters should avoid certain foods and also avoid eating at specified times of the day. They should reduce the intake of caffeine or alcohol.

In the case of sleepwalking, medications in the benzodiazepinefamily have had some success. These drugs are known to reduce motor activity during sleep. In the case of sleep eaters, dopaminergic agents such as Sinemet (carbidopa or levodopa) and Mirapex (pramipexole dihydrochloride) are used fro treatment.

Some sleep disorders are complex and often serious in nature. If you think you suffer from sleep eating, consult with your physician or a health care professional. He will usually refer you to a sleep disorders treatment center. It is strongly recommended that a sleep specialist carry out the diagnosis and treatment. It is important to uncover any hormonal or biochemical imbalances that may be the reasons contributing to habitual patterns of insomnia, overeating and depression in a person.

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