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Sleep Related Eating Disorder
Sleep
related
eating
disorder
(SRED)
is
characterized
by
compulsive
consumption
of
food
after
initiating
sleep.
The
patient
with
SRED
may
or
may
not
recall
these
episodes
of
eating,
and
their
eating
may
involve
consumption
of
inappropriate
types
or
quantities
of
foods.
The
types
of
foods
consumed
as
part
of
SRED
are
frequently
high
calorie,
high
fat,
or
sweet
foods.
In
some
cases,
patients
with
SRED
may
also
consume
non-food
items.
Patients
suffering
from
this
disorder
often
report
gastrointestinal
problems,
and
frequently
notice
signs
of
their
“sleep
eating”
the
following
morning,
such
as
wrappers,
leftover
food,
and
other
remnants
of
their
nighttime
consumptive
behavior.
SRED
can
co-occur
with
sleepwalking,
and
can
be
exacerbated
by
other
sleep
disorders
(such
as
OSA),
sleep
deprivation,
substance
use/medications,
or
stress.
This
disorder
can
be
treated
with
medication,
in
addition
to
behavioral
interventions
such
as
“alarming”
techniques
to
arouse
the
patient
from
sleep before they consume food.