Sleep Deprivation Makes People Hungry and Gain More Weight

A latest study finds that lack of proper sleep makes people gain weight easily.

Swedish researchers from Uppsala University found that sleep deprivation increases levels of hormone associated with hunger. For the study, the researchers gave adults, who spent sleepless nights, a selection of 40 food items next morning.

The results showed that the participants bought food that contained more calories. "We hypothesised that sleep deprivation's impact on hunger and decision making would make for the 'perfect storm' with regard to shopping and food purchasing-leaving individuals hungrier and less capable of employing self-control and higher-level decision-making processes to avoid making impulsive, calorie-driven purchases," said lead author Colin Chapman.

The study, published in the journal Obesity, studied 14 men with normal weight. The morning after a sleepless night they were provided with a budget of $46 to spend on food that included 20 high-calorie and 20 low-calorie options. They repeated the experiment after they had enjoyed a good night's rest.

The participants were also given breakfast to control their hunger pangs. The results showed that despite their stomach being full, the men bought food with nine percent higher calories.

 "Our finding provides a strong rationale for suggesting that patients with concerns regarding caloric intake and weight gain maintain a healthy, normal sleep schedule," said Chapman. "Our findings demonstrate that participants purchased significantly more calories and grams of food, within the same budget, following sleep deprivation."

"This is significant as the stocks that one purchases last beyond the acute sleep deprivation, and will influence food consumption choices long after the purchases are made," the authors concluded.