Due to nocturnal overeating, a sleepwalker has been compelled to diet during the day.
Lesley Cusack, in her altered state, devours fry-ups, soup, and fruit, and has even indulged in paint, soap powder, and raw potatoes.
At 55, she is afflicted with a sleep-related eating disorder, a rare condition that robs her of control over her nighttime eating behaviors.
“I can only piece it together by the leftovers I find in the morning,” stated Ms. Cusack.
“I often discover opened tins or packets, and I have no recollection of whether I consumed them cold or heated.”
“Sometimes, I come across soup both in pots and bowls. The situation can get quite chaotic.”
She continued, “I’m attempting to shed some pounds, yet it feels like an endless struggle. I can adhere strictly to a diet, but it all unravels at night.”
Living alone, Ms. Cusack has attempted to set an alarm clock to wake her during the night, but she claims she turns it off in her sleep.
“The most concerning items I know I’ve eaten include emulsion paint, Vaseline (delicious!), cough syrup, raw potatoes, and soap powder,” she recounted.
Her condition has necessitated asking friends to safeguard some of her food, leaving her anxious about staying at others’ homes.
Dr. Paul Reading, a neurologist and president of the British Sleep Society, noted that adult sleepwalkers frequently consume and prepare foods they typically would not eat.
“Weight gain and feelings of guilt are common outcomes of this phenomenon,” he remarked. “Complex sleep-walking may be triggered by stress.”
