Why do people eat in their sleep: an expert talks about the causes of this destructive behavioral phenomenon

Sleep-related binge eating disorder or "sleep overeating" is a state of arousal in which part of the brain is awake while the other part is resting. It is one of the most complex and difficult to treat parasomnias (unusual sleep behaviors), similar to sleepwalking, sleep talking, night terrors, and more.

OBOZ. UA tells with reference to the CNN material.

The worst sleep disorder

"Of all the parasomnias, sleep-related eating disorders harm people's lives," said Dr. Carlos Schenck, professor and senior staff psychiatrist at the Hennepin County Medical Center at the University of Minnesota.

"These people have a dramatically disturbed eating pattern. They gain weight. They feel miserable in the morning. It affects their whole life and is just terrible," explained the doctor specializing in treating parasomnias.

He also believes that these parasomnias most often occur during the slowest and deepest stage of delta sleep. "Something triggers an alarm in the central nervous system, and your body activates while your mind is deeply asleep," he said.

No control or inhibition

In the mixed state of sleep and wakefulness that is sleep overeating, ancient instincts take over, seeking out foods that the body "demands."

Most often these are candy, cookies, cakes, donuts, chips, and crackers. People can even eat foods that they are allergic to, which causes a reaction. And because they choose unhealthy foods, they subsequently develop or aggravate diabetes or hypertension.

Why do people eat in their sleep

Dr. Schenck believes that the urge to eat in your sleep can develop due to sleepwalking, sleep apnea, certain insomnia medications, or restless legs syndrome.

As for the latter, according to Schenck, sleep overeating can occur even before it. "We studied a group of patients with sleep overeating in the lab, and they had periodic limb movements along with sleep overeating," he said. "Then, five or ten years later, they developed classic restless legs syndrome."

Carlos Schenck also believes that dietary culture and restrictive eating can contribute to sleep overeating.

"Other risk factors for binge eating include a family history of eating disorders of any kind, as well as gender," Schenck said. "Overeating in sleep is about 70% prevalent in women, while, for example, sex addiction is 80% prevalent in men," the scientist said.

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