Sleepeating

Sleepeating or Nocturnal Eating Syndrome is a parasomnia where people experience recurrent episodes of eating during their sleep, without being aware of it.

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Sleep-related eating might occur often enough to result in significant weight gain. Although it can affect all ages and both sexes, it is more common in young women.^[1] In Australia, Ambien is marketed as "Stilnox" and the Australian drug agency found sleepdriving, and sleepeating as side effects.^[2]

Episodes of sleepeating can on occasion be repeated throughout the night, with the affected individual sometimes eating the same food over and over again, which can occur during many separate visits to the fridge or cupboard until the desired foodstuff is gone. Certain medication and alcohol can make sleepwalking more likely in an individual prone to these episodes.

References

1. ^ http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/Sleepeating.html
2. ^ New York Times; March 15, 2007; F.D.A. Issues Warning on Sleeping Pills