A sleep disorder symptom involving food, or nocturnal eating syndrome occurs more to women than men.
It is a combination of eating and sleeping disorders.
Insomniacs are also prone to this sleep disorder symptom.
A person gets up and prepares food and eats while still asleep.
It is often referred to as Parasomnia - meaning an unwanted, episodic physical phenomenon that occurs during sleep.
People who suffer from this strange sleep disorder symptom are light sleepers and will wake up and have a strong compulsion to eat or else they will be unable to fall asleep again.
They will therefore have to get up and raid the refrigerator and gobble down whatever they could find very quickly.
People with this sleep disorder symptom involving food are often overweight because they eat unhealthy, high calorie foods.
They will eat whatever they could find, and would not normally eat, such as frozen pizza, frozen dough, peanut butter on fish, whole container of ice cream, or even dog food.
Sometimes though they will prepare food and because they are still asleep, are sloppy and can hurt themselves with burns or cuts.
It is not advisable to get them to wake up when in this state, you probably would find it difficult anyway.
Most often they will not remember what had taken place, only the mess in the kitchen would give them the clue.
This sleep disorder symptom has nothing to do with the person being hungry.
It can still happen even if they had eaten just before falling asleep.
Putting on weight from this disorder brings with it more problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and arthritis, respiratory disease including sleep apnea, fertility issues, gout, fatty liver disease, gallbladder disease or even some forms of cancer.
The real cause of this sleep disorder symptom is not known however some triggers have been identified.
They include medications such as lithium, a mood stabilizer, and the benzodiazepine receptor zolpidem.
Often people at high risk for this sleep disorder symptom are those with underlying psychological problems, prone to mood swings and who suffer from bulimia.
Others include insomniacs, those with sleep apnea, narcoleptics and periodic limb movement sufferers are all in the high risk group.
Perhaps a way to prevent this weight gain associated with this habit is to lock up the fridge, freezer, and cupboards and wherever you store food.
Hide the keys where they cannot be found in that zombie state.
If there is a spouse around let him hide the keys where you cannot find them.
Only leave things like fruits and vegetables and a bowl of cereal on the counter.
Put any pet food you may have away with all the food.
This will not stop the bingeing but will reduce the likelihood of putting on weight.
People who suffer from mood and personality disorders or have psychological problems may be at risk.
Although it is reported that women are more susceptible to this sleep disorder symptom, it has been reported that many young obese girls with emotional problems also have this sleep disorder symptom.
Help is available and there is no reason for anyone to live with this burden.