Eating while sleeping is a rare but serious sleep disorder. Here’s what a sleep-related eating disorder is, why sleep eaters are compelled to eat in the middle of the night, and how sleep-related eating disorders differ from nocturnal eating syndrome.
Sleep-related eating disorder is a type of sleepwalking; people who are in partial arousal from deep sleep get out of bed and consume unhealthy food. These aren’t foods they would normally eat during the day – and they’re definitely not foods that help people sleep! When people eat while sleeping, they’re more likely to consume potato chips, cookie dough, or other high-calorie foods. Sleep eaters are becoming more common, and sleep-related eating disorders are receiving more attention by psychologists and sleep experts.
What is Sleep Eating Disorder?
Sleep-related eating disorders are different from “nocturnal eating syndrome” in one significant way: nocturnal eating syndrome involves full recall the following day of eating in the night. Sleep eaters, on the other hand, don’t necessarily remember eating in the night. They find evidence on their pillow, face, bed, and kitchen. Some sleep eaters even cook full meals in the middle of the night.
Characteristics of Sleep-Related Eating Disorders
Sleep eaters make up 2-3% of the US population. One percent of the population struggles with sleep-related eating disorder and another 1-2% has nocturnal eating syndrome. Sleep-related eating disorders tend to have a gradual onset. Of the reported cases of sleep eaters, 75% are women and the average age is mid-20’s.
Sleep eaters usually display most of these characteristics:
- Involuntarily getting out of bed and raiding the fridge or cupboards (sleep eating).
- Have varying levels of consciousness during a sleep eating episode.
- Recall varying levels of the episode the next day.
- Have many eating binges during one night, or one binge every few nights. This is variable, and depends on the sleep disorder.
- Don’t have feelings of hunger, thirst, or pain.
- Sometimes eat strange combinations of food: raw meat or condiments like ketchup or canola oil, and non-foods such as soap, hand cream and even buttered cigarettes. Comfort foods aren’t always part of sleep-related eating disorders.
- Sometimes undergo complex food preparation such as slicing, dicing, and even cooking.
- Leave evidence in the kitchen and bedroom the day after a sleep eating episode.
- Mostly do not consume alcohol in the middle of the night.
- Rarely smoke during sleep eating episodes. This sleep disorder focuses mainly on food (not cigarettes or alcohol).
Some sleep eaters may be aware they’re eating in the middle of the night but they can’t stop themselves. Sleep eaters don’t binge because they’re hungry; some sleep eaters are driven to eat strange combinations of food, such as salt or sugar sandwiches, raw meat and mayonnaise.
Who is prone to eat while sleeping?
The people most at risk for sleep-related eating disorder are those who have:
- A family history of sleep disorders, night terrors, sleepwalking and eating disorders
- Personal history of eating disorders, such as bulimia
- Recently quit smoking, taking drugs, or drinking alcohol
- Experienced extreme stress (sleep eating often starts during a period of high stress, but may not abate after the stress has passed).
- Taken tricyclic antidepressants or other medications
Some prescription medications have been connected to sleep eating, such as the mood stabilizer lithium and the benzodiazepine receptor agonist zolpidem (Ambien). Other sleep disorders – insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy – have been strongly associated with sleep-related eating.
Symptoms of Sleep Eating
The symptoms and consequences of this sleep disorder range from weight gain to injuries from carelessness while preparing food.
Weight gain
“Sleep-Related Eating Disorder” image by MsEmma via Flickr, CC License
Almost half of Dr. Schenck’s sleep-eaters are obese because they tend to eat foods like brownies, cakes, and ice cream. Since they’re eating while sleeping, they’re not counting calories. Even when they diet and exercise to lose weight, sleep eaters struggle to take the pounds off. Their sleep eating habits counteract the effects of diet and exercise while they’re awake.
Feelings of shame and embarrassment
Living with roommates, partners, and even family members is awkward for sleep eaters, especially when they wake up with chocolate all over their face and pillow! Frozen foods, such as pizza, may have bites taken out of it. Packaged food goes missing, or is partially eaten. The feeling of loss of control after a sleep eating episode can induce feelings of shame or guilt in sleep eaters.
Exposure to food allergies
Sleep eaters don’t think about their food allergies or other nutritional concerns when they’re eating in the middle of the night.
Risk of injury
Sleep eaters could fall down the stairs, choke on food, or burn or cut themselves while cooking.
Dental and medical complications
Tooth decay and damage can occur during a sleep eating episode. Some prescription medications require certain foods be eliminated from the diet – which a sleep-eater won’t consider during an episode. When they’re eating while sleeping, they’re not thinking about their medications or health.
Daytime fatigue
Because of the interrupted sleep, sleep eaters may not feel refreshed or lively in the morning. Eating while sleeping disrupts sleep, even though people don’t actually wake up. If you’re a sleep eater, you might find Foods That Stabilize Emotions and Give You Energy helpful.
People who struggle with persistent sleep-related eating disorder should seek help from a sleep expert or psychologist as soon as possible. Letting this sleep disorder go untreated not only reduces quality of life for sleep eaters, it could also be life-threatening. There is nothing shameful about this sleep-related eating disorder – and treatments can be very effective.
This is an interesting perspective on overcoming an eating disorder, because Jenni learned to treat her eating disorder as a relationship, not a condition. By thinking of her eating disorder as a unique personality separate from her own, Jenni was able to “break up” with Ed (Eating Disorder) once and for all. This book is inspiring, compassionate, and filled with practical exercises to help you break up with your own personal eating disorder.
Treatments for Sleep-Related Eating Disorders
According to Dr. Schenck, biofeedback, acupuncture, self-hypnosis, hypnotherapy, and psychotherapy did not have any benefits in the cases he’s studied. Sleep eaters don’t tend to respond to those types of treatments for sleep disorders.
Some sleep-eaters tried locking their fridges, but they sustained injuries from breaking the locks when they were in the midst of an “eating while sleeping” episode. Other sleep-eaters put notes on their fridges, such as, “Don’t eat, you pig!” in an effort to jolt them out of eating while sleeping. Still other sleep-eaters asked family members to stop them, or punish themselves the next day by doing extra chores or undesirable tasks. These aren’t usually effective treatments for sleep-related eating disorders.
Motion sensors to wake sleep eaters up – or alert others
One of the most common treatments for sleep-related eating disorders are prescription medications. But, since this sleep disorder is related to sleepwalking, I’d try a before prescription medication. If you’re a sleep eater and aren’t ready to take drugs to control it – not that there’s anything wrong with medicine that helps you sleep! – you might consider a motion detector.
Prescription medications for sleep eaters
“Sleep eaters often have a history of sleepwalking, so this phenomenon is considered more of a sleep disorder than an eating disorder,” writes Dr Lawrence Epstein in A Good Night’s Sleep. “Eliminating sleepwalking will stop the trips to the refrigerator. Treatment with medication is often effective. Dopamine agents, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and opiates are among the drugs prescribed.”
The best treatment for this sleep disorder, according to Dr. Schenck, is Topamax or topiramate. It’s an anticonvulsive medication; this sleep doctor reported a success rate of about 66% for sleep eaters after six months. His sleep eaters reported more restful sleeps and weight loss, and less eating while sleeping. A possible side effect of this prescription medication is a tingling sensation (paresthesias). Since this drug controls the eating but disrupts sleep, Dr. Schenck also prescribes mild doses of sleeping aids, such as clonazepam or trazodone.
Every time I mention prescription sleeping pills here on the Sleep Blog, I have to share 8 Things You Need to Know About Sleeping Pills! Even when a doctor prescribes them, sleeping pills need to be taken with caution.
To learn more about this sleep disorder, read Dr Schenck’s Sleep: A Groundbreaking Guide to the Mysteries, the Problems, and the Solutions. It’s a great resource for sleep sleep-related eating disorders, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and other sleep disorders.
Do you have any questions, thoughts, comments about sleep eating?
I welcome your big and little thoughts below! I’m not an expert on sleep-disordered eating so I may not be able to answer the hard questions, but I’m good at research 
I might be able to help you find solutions or more information on this or other sleep disorders.
If you struggle with sleep eating, I hope you found enough information here to help you start thinking about ways to overcome this sleep or eating disorder. The first step might be reading more about sleep and/or eating disorders, or perhaps trying the motion-activated alarm to wake you up before you eat. The next step might be talking to a sleep doctor or psychologist. Take it one step at a time, and you will find peace.
Resources: A Good Night’s Sleep by Lawrence J. Epstein, M.D. and Sleep: A Groundbreaking Guide to the Mysteries, the Problems, and the Solutions by Carlos H. Schenck, M.D..
