SLEEP HEALTH / CLINICAL (symposium session): Eating disorders in OSA and hypersomnolence: under the radar yet impacting health outcomes
Tracks
Track 1
| Saturday, November 14, 2026 |
| 3:45 PM - 5:15 PM |
Details
Screening for eating disorders in sleep medicine is largely overlooked, with many clinicians lacking training or support in monitoring for flags or signs of disordered eating.
With the rise of GLP-1 medications for OSA, it is important to screen for disordered eating behaviours when managing obesity to support patient health progress, given the potential for appetite inhibition to further complicate eating behaviour. Understanding a patient's historical eating behaviours is an important consideration when prescribing and monitoring nutrition during obesity treatment.
In addition, people living with narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia may be of greater vulnerability when a presentation of disordered eating behaviour accompanies sleep disorder diagnosis due to stimulant medication potentiating appetite inhibition. Consequently, low overall energy intake may contribute to somnolence, compounding symptoms of hypersomnolence.
This symposium will equip attendees with skills to screen for eating disorders and direction in navigating when and how to refer patients for additional care.
Speaker
Elizabeth Machan
The University of Sydney / The Woolcock Institute
Brief introduction to the problem - eating behaviours in obesity management for the OSA and hypersomolence, a clinical perspective
3:45 PM - 4:00 PMBiography
Leah Brennan
Practicalities of identifying disordered eating in people presenting for obesity treatment or hypersomnolence
4:00 PM - 4:30 PMBiography
Natalie Lister
Outlining evidence of eating disorders in GLP-1 studies
4:30 PM - 4:50 PMBiography
Dr Sheila Sivam
Physician
Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Panel discussion
4:50 PM - 5:15 PMBiography
Sara Winter
Program Manager
Australasian Sleep Association
Panel discussion
4:50 PM - 5:15 PMBiography
Elizabeth Machan
The University of Sydney / The Woolcock Institute
Chair
Biography
