Waking up to eat in the middle of the night

45% Normal
9 Comments

I love food and i thank God i have a fast metabolism otherwise i'd be 300 pounds, but thankfully i'm 130. I am concerned about my habit of waking up in the middle of a deep sleep and taking a bite or two out of whatever snack i have next to me. If i don't have a snack next to me i motivate myself to get up to go upstairs and grab something, than i go right back to sleep. It get's so bad that sometimes i have a snack bar next to me IN my bed, whether its chips or a slice of pizza. I'll eat anything! My family has caught me sleeping with my hand in a bag of gummy worms before. What if i choke in my sleep? I just want to know if anyone else has this habit and if there's anyone who knows if this is a disorder, besides being obese, and if so is there a cure?!?! I remember when i was a child my mom would wake me up in the middle of the night to go eat a bowl of cereal, i'm guessing thats how it all started, but, i beg of someone, HOW CAN I STOP IT!?!? of does anyone else do this, that's not more than 300 pounds??? I can't help my cravings and love for food, so what the heck should i do!?!?!? I don't want to become overweight and i sure as heck don't want to die in my sleep from choking!

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45% Normal
Based on 116 votes (52 yes)
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Comments ( 9 )
  • mollsamc
    14 years ago

    Yeah, you seem to have something called a Night Eating Syndrome.... When you wake up to eat small meals or snacks during the night (but you are awake not sleep walking and you can't sleep without eating--you feel very in need of a snack). Its a mood, sleep and eating disorder. You are very blessed to have a high metabolism and not gain weight. I have gained about 70 pounds from this and struggle with a weight over 200 pounds...luckily, I am tall and have good porportions or else I would not just look overweight but obese. I might now be considered obese, at 220 and 5'10. Mine started when I weighed about 160 and was teaching in a suburb to gang kids while student teaching. I would wake up in chocolate bars, melted chocolate so on... ( like 4-7 bars i would buy in the middle of the night at my college's vending maching). I also woke up with food in my bed...chocolate,gummy bears, then cheese, then cereal and crackers. I had stayed about 170 all throughout college and after college started gaining the weight (also to make you feel better, I did experience several anxiety disorders and a severe trauma which made this disorder worse and made me gain so much weight). I know this started because I use food to deal with issues. I had control of my weight when it started but I have a past of mood, sleep, anxiety disorders. It is considered an eating disorder. I have had binge eating, bullemia and a form of bullemia ( chewing and spitting).
    John Winkleman from Harvard is a doctor who has headed up research on this. He is located in Brighton, MA. I live in Boston, so I can see him but you could call his number of the sleep center 1505 commonwealth ave brighton, ma and they might refer you. There is help. be glad you are not gaining--lucky duck, i am JEALOUS!!!!!

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    • whatsnormal315
      13 years ago

      Sorry for the delayed response, honestly, i've been going through A LOT! My eating disorder comes and goes now, i recently checked myself into a clinic for help regarding my anxiety/anger/bipolar/mood swings/depression, it's all sorts of craziness. Doctors after doctors, and i have started to gain weight to top it off, it's all spiraling out of control. I'm so depressed i eat, i look at myself in the mirror and get more depressed, its a on going circle of pathetic feeling bad for myself, but i can't find enough motivation or care to snap out of it!

      I thank you for your advice, and most of all caring. I don't feel that feeling anymore from almost most the ppl in my life right now, that sense of 'someone caring for you'. So thank you...

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  • joliegems
    14 years ago

    I saw this wife swap where the mom woke her kids up at 3am to make them drink a glass of yogurt. She said their metabolisms would be faster if they didn't go so long without food.

    Maybe you have a high metabolism because of it, too.

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  • catcat27
    13 years ago

    Yup, I do it too.

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    • whatsnormal315
      13 years ago

      and...know any way to stop it?

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  • lol1055
    10 years ago

    it goes away if you eat until the next day!

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  • littleone
    14 years ago

    not normal :( not healthy :(
    seek help.

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  • Crazydiamond
    14 years ago

    Why did your mum wake you in the middle of the night to eat? That's weird.

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    • mels8780
      14 years ago

      Iveseen this disorder on television....there was this woman who was exercising and didnt overeat at all but she'd wake up with food next to her, these camera men caught her on tape. idk what the treatment was , donot recall the show. just know that youre not a freak and theres help out there!

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