Night eating is often confused with a similar nighttime eating disorder known as Sleep-Related Eating Disorder (SRED). The primary difference between the two disorders is that individuals suffering from SRED remain asleep while they consume food in the middle of the night. By contrast, individuals who suffer from night eating awaken in the night and feel compelled to eat to assuage feelings of anxiety, fear, panic or similar negative emotions. SRED sufferers are actually sleepwalkers who for some reason gravitate to the kitchen and eating while remaining in an unconscious state.

Dr. Maha Alatter, a sleep specialist and neurologist at Mary Washington Hospital, comments on the behavior of SRED sufferers and warns that it is a serious condition: "They start sleep walking and it's a primal response to go and eat. ... That's a normal human drive. ... It can be very dangerous. ... Sometimes people can pick up non-food material and eat it, sometimes toxic material."

SRED is typically treated in the same way as other sleepwalking disorders, including locking doors, locking cabinets and the refrigerator, and otherwise establishing barriers to prevent the unconscious individual from doing themselves harm. In some cases, medications can also be prescribed to help treat the condition.

(Source: www.fredericksburg.com)

Labels: eating disorder, sleep

Posted By: Aspen Education Group