Sleep-Related Eating Disorder

Overview

All three Mayo Clinic locations have sleep centers with specialists experienced in treating sleep-related eating disorder (SRED).

SRED is more common than might be assumed and can have harmful effects beyond disturbing a patient's sleep.

Seeking treatment can help patients reduce episodes and avoid potential consequences such as weight gain, reduced diabetes control, or injury. Doctors can also help patients cope with psychological distress that can come with the disorder.

Diagnosis

Doctors will need to take a full medical history to rule out possible underlying causes. Some medications used to treat other disorders (such as insomnia or depression) can lead to SRED. A video-recorded polysomnogram is usually necessary to observe behavior and to detect other sleep disorders — common in people with SRED.

Symptoms of SRED

Risk Factors for SRED

Treatment

Treatment varies by individual, but may include:

• improving sleep hygiene (simple measures to encourage successful sleep, such as setting up a quiet and comfortable sleeping environment, going to bed at the same time every night, and getting up the same time every morning, and avoiding stimulants) to avoid sleep deprivation, which can increase episodes
• making the sleep and kitchen environments safer
• changing medications used to treat other disorders
• prescribing medication to reduce SRED

About Sleep-Related Eating Disorder

SRED is characterized by compulsive binge eating during episodes of sleepwalking in the night. Read more about symptoms and risk factors.

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