What are sleep-related eating disorders (SRED)?
Sleep-related eating disorders are disorders characterized by abnormal eating
patterns during the night.
Although it is not as common as sleepwalking, sleep-related
eating disorder (SRED) can occur during sleepwalking. People with this disorder
eat while they are asleep. They often walk into the kitchen and prepare food
without a recollection for having done so. If SRED occurs often enough, a person
can experience weight gain, develop Type II diabetes mellitus, have unrefreshing
sleep and feel sleepy/tired during the day.
A closely related disorder, known as nocturnal eating syndrome (NES),
is diagnosed when a person eats during the night with full awareness and might
be unable to fall asleep again unless he or she eats.
Symptoms of NES include:
- Little or no appetite for breakfast
- Eating more food after dinner than during the meal
- Eating more than half of daily food intake after dinner hour
- A persisting pattern for at least two months
SRED and NES differ in that people with NES eat when they are
conscious. However, the disorders are similar in that they both are hybrids of
sleep and eating disorders. Both of these conditions can interfere with an
individual’s good nutrition, cause shame, and result in depression and weight gain.
Who is at risk for sleep-related eating disorders?
Both men and women can have these disorders, but they are more common among
women. About one percent to three percent of the general population appears to
be affected by the disorders. Ten percent to 15 percent of people with eating
disorders are affected. Many of these individuals diet during the day, which
might leave them hungry and vulnerable to binge eating at night when their
control is weakened by sleep. In some cases, people with sleep-related eating
disorders have histories of alcoholism, drug abuse, and other sleep disorders.
How are sleep-related eating disorders treated?
Treatment of nocturnal eating behaviors begins with a clinical interview and
might include an overnight stay in a sleep laboratory, where brain activity is
monitored during the night. Medicine sometimes can be helpful for these
disorders Additional treatments might include methods to release stress and
anxiety. Examples of these methods include stress management classes,
counseling, and a limited intake/avoidance of alcohol and caffeine.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition.This document was last reviewed on: 11/15/2008...#12123
