Do I Have Sleep Eating Disorder?

Do you have repeated episodes of “out-of-control” eating and drinking during the night while still asleep?

Do you eat high-carbohydrate and high-fat food or strange forms or combinations of food during those episodes?

Did you eat inedible or toxic substances, such as frozen food, coffee grounds, cleaning solutions, or cigarette butts, during those episodes?

Do you have impaired consciousness while preparing and eating food?

Have you been injured during food preparation activities?

Did anyone tell you that it was difficult to wake you up or redirect you during the episode?

Do these episodes of eating interfere with your sleep and cause insomnia, so you are very tired during the day?

Do you have a loss of appetite in the morning?

Do you have little or no memory of these actions the next morning?

Do you have a negative impact on your health from the nighttime eating (weight gain, poor diabetes control or dental cavities, depression, or a daytime tiredness)?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have a sleep eating disorder. Sleep eating disorder is a type of parasomnia (a sleep disorder) characterized by episodes of eating and drinking while still in a state of sleep. Sleep eating disorder occurs in the first half of the night after you fall asleep. It can be a potentially dangerous condition because you can injure yourself while preparing food or you can eat something that is inedible or toxic, as well as something you are allergic to. It is more common in women than in men and usually occurs in adolescence or early 20s.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have a sleep eating disorder. Sleep eating disorder (SRED) is a condition that refers to repetitive episodes of compulsive overeating and drinking during the night when you are only partially awake. A person cannot control these episodes. They happen even though there is no feeling of hunger and thirst. If you try to stop a person while eating, you will usually encounter resistance and aggressive behavior. The food was eaten very quickly and the whole episode lasts no more than ten minutes. A diagnosis is based on a physical examination, sleep habits review and a sleep study.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have a sleep eating disorder. Sleep eating disorder (SRED) consists of episodes of uncontrolled eating and drinking during the night while you are still asleep. Episodes can occur every night, while some people eat multiple times during one night. Some people partially remember the episode in the morning. SRED is often associated with other sleep disorders such as sleepwalking. It is a long-term disorder that can cause numerous health problems such as obesity, tooth decay, or depression due to the feeling of shame or lack of control. Treatment includes a combination of medications and environmental adjustments.