Sleep Eating May Explain Mysterious Weight Gain
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Jason Carney would wake multiple times a night in search of food. The problem, though: he didn't know he was doing it.
"Crackers, chips, Clif Bars were a big deal for me," said Carney. "I would wake up the next morning and see food wrappers in the kitchen."
His FitBit found he had been up as many as six or seven times eating in his sleep.
Eventually, Carney couldn't ignore the situation and his weight gain. That's when he turned to doctors for help.
Doctors diagnosed Carney with a sleep-related eating disorder. He now takes half an anti-depressant pill each day.
"They're not awake, their brain is still sleeping," said sleep specialist Dr. Ranji Varghese. "They're just engaging in these complex behaviors they'll eat these unusual foods go back to bed and have no recall."
In two weeks he dropped 15 pounds and went from waking up six or seven times a night to maybe once.
Although Carney has seen great results, experts say medications aren't always necessary to treat a sleep eating disorder, but it's best to check with a doctor before trying to treat yourself.
