Night Time Eating & the Impact on Sleep Disorders

Millions of dollars are spent on sleeping pills, sleeping aides and general sleep therapy and sleep study services. For many American adults, obtaining a decent night of sleep is a daily challenge. Coping with the stresses of the day, sleep disorders are making a major impact on the productivity of the working adult.

For patients suffering from a sleep disorder known as insomnia, there appears to be a common culprit known as Night Eating Disorder. Described as a condition in which an individual may forgo breakfast and lunch and then engage in a binge eating session for dinner and well into the evening. The result is a sudden onset of fatigue, associated with the abundance of food, coupled with the insomnia related symptoms due to the overactive gastrointestinal tract.

What is of greatest concern is the viscious cycle the Night Eating Disorder can create. Because we eat at night, we fail to fall asleep appropriately, leading to insomnia, which then creates a daytime fatigue condition which leads to the creation of depression, anxiety and general bordome only to lead us right back into the night eating frenzy again. In fact, it is estimated that nearly 15 percent of all of the individuals who complain of insomnia are most likely developing a sleep disorder in response to the eating disorder and complication.

To remedy a Night Eating Disorder, sleep study professionals commonly recommend the insomniac abstain from snacking throughout the day. Instead, finding other ways in which to stimulate the mind have become more mainstream. Learning to exercise and engage in a sort of healthy work out or fitness routine, in the evening, provides for another avenue to improve the risk of developing Night Eating Disorder.