Sleep and Obesity

Research suggests that there’s a link between how much people sleep and how much they weigh. In general, children and adults who get too little sleep tend to weigh more than those who get enough sleep.

There are several possible ways that sleep deprivation could increase the chances of becoming obese.

1) Sleep-deprived people may be too tired to exercise, decreasing the “calories burned” side of the weight-change equation.

2) People who don’t get enough sleep may take in more calories than those who do, simply because they are awake longer and have more opportunities to eat.

3) Lack of sleep also disrupts the balance of key hormones that control appetite, so sleep-deprived people may be hungrier than those who get enough rest each night.