Why Am I Eating in My Sleep? Understanding Sleep-Related Eating Disorder

Sleep is supposed to be a time of rest. A full-body reset. A quiet escape from the noise of the day. But for some, nighttime brings a very different kind of ritual. One that involves wandering into the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge, and consuming food with little to no awareness that it is even happening. It is only in the morning, with the crumbs, wrappers, and half-eaten leftovers, that the clues begin to surface. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Sleep-related eating, sometimes called sleep eating or nocturnal eating, is a real condition. And while it may sound quirky on the surface, it can carry real consequences for both physical health and emotional well-being.

Sleep-related eating is a type of parasomnia, meaning it happens during partial arousals from sleep, most often in the first half of the night. People experiencing this are not fully awake, but they are not fully asleep either. Their bodies move, their hands prepare food, and they eat. But they often have little to no memory of the event the next day. This is different from simply waking up hungry or having a late-night snack. Sleep-related eating tends to be compulsive and disconnected from conscious hunger. The foods chosen are usually high in sugar, salt, or fat and often include combinations the person would not typically eat while awake.

It is more common in females than in males and often appears in people who also struggle with other forms of disordered eating. The usual age of onset is between twenty and thirty, but it can certainly begin later in life. Some people discover it for the first time in their forties or beyond. Many do not realize how common it is because they have never heard anyone else talk about it.

The causes of sleep eating can vary. Sometimes it is linked to other sleep disorders, such as sleepwalking or restless legs syndrome. In other cases, it may be associated with medications that alter sleep architecture or stimulate appetite, including certain antidepressants, hypnotics, or antipsychotics. There is also a strong association with stress, anxiety, and trauma. For some, sleep eating shows up during times of emotional overwhelm, functioning almost like a stress valve that bypasses waking inhibition. It is also more common in individuals with a history of disordered eating or disrupted body image. And for many, it exists in the blurry space between neurology, psychiatry, and behavioral health.

Even when medication appears to be the clear trigger, the behavior does not always stop right away after discontinuation. Some people continue to experience episodes for weeks or months, even without the original medication. And while most of the food consumed is safe, some clients have been known to eat frozen, raw, or even inedible items during sleep episodes. It is not unheard of for people to wake up with food poisoning or minor injuries from trying to prepare food in a non-waking state. It is a condition that deserves careful attention and not just curiosity.

Diagnosing sleep-related eating can be surprisingly difficult. Many people feel embarrassed or ashamed and do not report the episodes unless directly asked. Sometimes a partner notices. Sometimes it is the unexplained weight gain, the blood sugar swings, or the repeated morning discoveries that prompt the conversation. A sleep medicine provider may order a sleep study, especially if there is concern for overlapping sleep disorders. But often, the diagnosis relies on clinical history. The key markers are nighttime eating with impaired awareness, limited recall, and a lack of control. It is not about indulgence. It is about dysregulation.

Management begins with understanding. Once someone can name what is happening, the shame tends to soften. From there, the focus shifts to identifying possible triggers and contributing factors. This includes reviewing medications, sleep hygiene practices, and any coexisting mental health concerns. In some cases, adjusting the timing or dosage of a medication can make a big difference. Zolpidem, quetiapine, and mirtazapine are among the medications most commonly associated with sleep-related eating episodes. If one of these is involved, the first step may be a careful taper or switch, ideally with oversight from a prescribing provider.

In more persistent cases, medications such as topiramate, pramipexole, or sertraline may be considered, depending on the underlying pattern and coexisting conditions. These are not universal solutions, but they can be helpful in the right clinical context. As always, treatment should be tailored to the individual and carefully monitored.

There is also something deeply human about the way this condition blurs the line between day and night, between what we can control and what we cannot. Sleep eating reminds us that the body holds stories we may not yet have words for. That healing is not always linear. And that sometimes, what appears as a behavior is really a message in disguise.

One client I worked with had spent years waking up to the aftermath of her own unconscious nighttime rituals. She was high functioning, held a demanding job, and was meticulous about her daytime eating habits. At night, something else took over. She would find empty cartons of ice cream, missing loaves of bread, or half-consumed frozen meals in the sink. For a long time, she blamed herself. Thought it was about willpower. We worked together to slowly peel back the layers. It turned out she had a long history of childhood food insecurity and unresolved trauma. She had also been prescribed a sedative several years earlier for sleep. The combination created the perfect storm. With time, therapy, a new medication plan, and consistent follow-up, the episodes decreased. They did not vanish overnight. But they no longer ruled her mornings. And perhaps most importantly, she no longer met them with shame.

As for ketamine, while it is not a direct treatment for sleep-related eating, it may have a role in certain cases. When shame, trauma, or severe anxiety sit at the center of the behavior, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy can help reduce the emotional weight that keeps the cycle in motion. It can soften the internal pressure, disrupt stuck patterns, and allow the body and mind to process memories that have remained frozen. This is not a quick fix. But in the right context, with the right support, it can become part of a broader healing path.

At Kalea Wellness, we understand that sleep is more than just rest. It is regulation, integration, and repair. When that process becomes disrupted, we take the time to look beneath the surface. We ask questions with curiosity, not judgment. And we support our clients in exploring both the neurological and emotional roots of their sleep-related challenges. If something here resonates with you, know that you are not alone, and that healing is possible, even during the quietest hours of the night.