Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances in eating disorders

Abstract

Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances are common in patients with mental disorders. Past findings have suggested a close relationship between two critical behaviors of human, sleeping and eating. This review provides an overview of sleep and circadian rhythm problems that patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and night eating syndrome experience. A line of studies included in this review confirmed that sleep and circadian rhythm are disturbed in patients with eating disorders. Current literature demonstrates that altered neuroendocrine circadian profiles may be associated with the feeding-fasting disruption. This review provides an insight into the relationship between circadian processes and eating disorder and emphasizes the importance of assessing circadian profiles in patients with eating disorder. In conclusion, we proposed future directions to better understand the sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions related to eating disorders.