{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A rare condition could cause some people to eat while they are in a deep sleep.
Sleep-related eating disorder (SED) is an abnormal behavior called a parasomnia that occurs during sleep.
According to experts, the condition causes people to eat – and in some cases even prepare food – while they sleep.
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Kara Becker, a certified eating disorders specialist and national director of eating disorders programs for Newport Healthcare in California, told Fox News Digital that people who tend to snack in their sleep typically have no memory of it the next morning.
A person may have more than one episode of sleepiness and eating per night, and this can occur even if the person is not hungry, Becker noted.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The person is “usually unaware” of sleepwalking or “may have only a hazy awareness of it,” one clinical psychologist said. (iStock)
Certain medications can cause SRED, as can quitting smoking, alcohol and drug use, stress, narcolepsy and dieting, the expert said.
Drug-induced SRED can also occur after taking sedative-hypnotic medications to treat insomnia, the Cleveland Clinic noted on its website.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Symptoms of the disorder can include repeated episodes of “uncontrollable” eating and drinking while sleeping, eating strange combinations of foods or a loss of appetite in the morning, Becker said.
The expert also highlighted the dangers that can come with cooking or eating at night, such as fires, burns and cuts.
Symptoms of the disorder may include repeated episodes of “out of control” eating and drinking while sleeping, eating strange combinations of foods, or loss of appetite in the morning. (iStock)
Fox News Digital also spoke with clinical psychologist Kelly Baron, PhD, director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Lab at the University of Utah, about the symptoms and dangers of non-REM parasomnia.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}SRED can cause dental problems and interfere with weight loss goals, Baron noted.
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“In some cases, the person could be cooking and injure themselves or bump into objects,” she warned.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“People can sometimes eat inedible foods,” Baron said. “I wrote a case series with a colleague and a patient had eaten dog food in his sleep or stew with his hands, which made a big mess.”
People with SRED may “fall or bump into objects” or cut or burn themselves during an episode, an expert warns. (iStock)
“Consuming large amounts of calories without mindful eating is not recommended for anyone and can be very disruptive to adequate nutritional intake,” Becker added.
“Some may even consume dangerous substances at night without knowing it, immediately putting their health at risk.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}So who is at risk?
SRED episodes are more likely to occur when there is a lack of sleep, so conditions such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea may be risk factors, according to the Cleveland Clinic website.
People are more likely to experience SRED if they are closely related to someone who sleepwalks, if they feel stressed or sleep deprived during the day, if they have an eating disorder, or if they suffer from anxiety or depression.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“For other people, having another sleep disorder can trigger sleepwalking behavior, including nighttime binge eating, so having a sleep assessment is very important,” Baron advised.
People suffering from the condition should be evaluated at a sleep center, an expert said. (iStock)
For some people, sleepwalking is a hereditary risk that lasts from childhood to adulthood, Baron said.
Treatment options
There are several treatment options for SRED, including reducing and eliminating triggers and treating other sleep disorders, Baron told Fox News Digital.
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People can also implement techniques to improve sleep behaviors and try medication, the expert said.
Becker also suggested implementing safety precautions at home, such as installing locks on kitchen cabinets and refrigerators and removing dangerous obstacles.
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People with SRED also need to “get enough sleep regularly,” she encouraged, because the disease can worsen with lack of sleep.
“It is also recommended that you participate in a sleep study so your health care provider can better understand your nighttime activity,” she said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}According to the Cleveland Clinic, SRED is most common in women under the age of 20. (iStock)
SRED is a separate condition from night eating syndrome (NES), which causes people to feel compelled to eat before bed or to wake up several times during the night to eat and then return to bed, Baron said.
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According to the Cleveland Clinic, SRED is most common in women under the age of 20, but it can occur in anyone.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Between 1 and 5% of adults suffer from parasomnia.
Experts suggest consulting a healthcare professional if episodes of SRED are suspected.
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