The nocturnal eating disorder is a chronic syndrome which is more prominent in women. Among two eating disorders related to sleep, this is one. The other one is called as the food disorder related to sleep. These are both parasomnias.

The Nocturnal Eating syndrome, one among two sleep disorders, is marked by impulsive raids on the refrigerators at night. People who have this disorder are not deep sleepers. When they wake up in the nights, they have a very strong urge to raid the refrigerator in the nights. They will have a very strong feeling that unless and until they eat something they won't be able to sleep. Once they get out of their bed and near the refrigerator, they will know what is going on completely. They gobble food down and also they can recollect having eaten that food even the next day. It’s a combination of an eating and a sleeping disorder. In the nocturnal eating syndrome, insomnia also plays a role. Usually, this disorder is treated by a health professional who is a specialist in the mental functioning of the human body and also specializes in eating disorders. One thing that can help in controlling this disorder is the improvement of sleep hygiene.

Eating Disorder that is related to sleep also is more prominent in women than in men and it is a variation in sleepwalking. When such an event occurs, the person affected wakes up from sleep partially and will eat during that time. Mostly, in this condition, they will eat food that is not very good for health and some that may not be eaten by them during their normal course of meals, ever. When a person eats during this disorder, they may eat raw cookie dough, frozen pizzas, dog food or peanut butter on fishes. Also, they are very sloppy and careless. So they may get a lot of bruises and cuts while preparing the food. A person cannot be easily awoken from such an episode and next morning, they will have no memory, whatsoever of having eaten things the previous night. However, there is no correlation between hunger while sleeping and the episodes. It may even happen when the person has just eaten food before going to sleep.

Though the cause that produces the sleep disorder is unknown, many triggers for these have been identified. The triggers are medications like mood stabilizers like lithium, and benzodiazepine receptor zolpidem. People who are affected by personality and mood disorders like bulimia are more prone to developing a sleep disorder like this. Also, people who suffer from sleep apnea, insomnia, periodic disorders of limb movement and narcolepsy are also prone to these.

People who have sleep related disorders on eating habits have sleepwalking disorders. Hence, people who have parasomnia are known to have more sleeping than eating disorders. Treatment using prescribed medication is usually very effective. Dopimine agents, anti depressants, opiates and anticonvulsants are prescribed usually too. When sleepwalking is ended, the visits to the refrigerators will also stop automatically.

People who have eating disorders related to sleeping disorders usually are overweight, owing to the high intake of calories at night. This gain in weight can result in other disorders like sleep apnea. Mental or medical health treatment must be sought for the good health and welfare of the person affected as soon as possible.