Originally published October 10 2005
Sleep-eating disorder now under observation in Australia
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Peter Buchanan, clinical research fellow at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, has been observing Australians who suffer from "sleep-eating," a disorder in which the sleeper rises at night and enters the kitchen to eat high-calorie foods.
Peter Buchanan, a senior clinical research fellow at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, has studied several "sleep-eating" sufferers in Australia.
Victims of the disorder, he says, are compelled to rise from their beds at night, head for the kitchen and gorge themselves, typically on high-calorie food such as peanut butter and chocolate biscuits.
The patient, who sleeps through the midnight snack, has no memory in the morning, despite the tell-tale signs of discarded chocolate bar wrappers, food smears around the mouth and, of course, a full stomach.
"In overseas studies there have been reports of people doing quite elaborate things while they're asleep, like preparing meals and actually cooking them as well," Dr Buchanan said.
"To people not familiar with the field it probably defies belief."
"What they consume at night is usually at variance to the food they'd normally eat when they're awake during the day," Dr Buchanan said.
Sleep-related eating disorder was recognised in the US about 15 years ago.
Dr Buchanan was to deliver what is thought to be the first description of the condition at a medical forum in Australia yesterday at the Australasian Sleep Association Conference on the Gold Coast.
His presentation was based on a review of cases collected from colleagues in Sydney, where Dr Buchanan is also a consultant in the sleep unit of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
The onset of the condition usually occurs in people as young adults, and predominantly in females.
"What causes it is simply unknown at this stage," Dr Buchanan said.
"It's not due to any anatomical or psychiatric disturbances."
There are no firm figures on how prevalent the disorder is, although one study in the US examining university students found 4 per cent were sufferers.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml