Sleep Deprivation and Weight Gain

Here's another good reason to adopt an early bedtime:

Sleep deprivation appears to play a role in weight gain and obesity.

A portion of the brain's hypothalamus region, which controls appetite regulation, is activated by sleep deprivation.

Sleep researchers say that inadequate sleep causes "hunger hormone" levels to increase and "feeling full" hormone levels to decrease.

In one study, people who were deprived of adequate sleep showed significant changes in their hunger and fullness hormone levels.

These people craved sweets and other fattening, carbohydrate-loaded foods.

The same people experienced less hunger and less craving for sweets and carbohydrates after a full night's sleep.

Other studies have linked getting less than 8 hours of sleep per night with a slightly higher body mass index.

Researchers have also discovered that people who sleep two to four hours per night are 73% more likely to be obese than are people who sleep seven to nine hours.

People who sleep five or more hours per night are 50% more likely to be obese than normal sleepers.

People who sleep six hours per night are 23% more likely to be obese.

And people who sleep 10 or more hours per night are 11% less likely to be obese.

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