You think that he’s strong… but, just like all of us, even pop icons like Robbie Williams cannot dodge an (inconvenient) doctor’s diagnosis.
Speaking out in a new video, the 43-year-old singer has admitted that his late-night snacking is much more than the midnight munchies; in fact, it’s a condition that can lead to a string of scary health implications.
For the last 12 months, Robbie has been suffering from Nocturnal Sleep-related Eating Disorder.
According to [Web MD](http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-related-eating-disorders|target=”_blank”|rel=”nofollow”, nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder (or NS-RED) can, in fact, even occur when someone is sleep-walking. People who have this disorder will walk into their kitchen, mid-sleep, and eat food without recalling doing so.
“I am absolutely asleep and I get up, and I go and ea,” he says.
“I don’t do it on purpose – I’m not aware I’m doing it – but it happens.”
“And apparently in my sleep I don’t want kale; I want sugar and loads of it.”
“It’s been super weird, as you can imagine and leaves me not a lot of room for [eating] bad stuff during the day because bad stuff happens at night, when I am asleep. It’s just weird, but it’s what’s happening.”
‘So there’s zero sad, shameful secret treats because I have my treat in the middle of the night when I don’t even know about it.’
Worryingly, if this happens often enough, like Robbie, those who suffer from NS-RED can gain weight and become at risk of developing type-2 diabetes.
Even though this condition is rare, both men and women are susceptible to it, but can be treated with stress-management classes, sleep labs, counselling, as well as limiting your coffee and alcohol intake.
This isn’t the first time Robbie has declared he suffers from a mystery illness…
The former Take That frontman says he misdiagnosed himself with depression four years ago, but recently discovered he was actually ill with something else.
“I found out a few months ago that I’d been ill, completely by mistake, and I don’t want to go into the whys and wherefores but what I had made you lethargic and made you depressed and I’d had it for years and not known and I’m on treatment for it. It’s changed my life.”
“I thought I was lethargic and depressed as a person. I thought that was my make-up,” he told UK radio station Magic 105.4 in a recent interview.
Hang in there, Robbie – we’re thinking of you!
To learn more about NS-RED, book an appointment with your doctor for a confidential chat.
