Another possible reason that sleep has been associated with weight gain and obesity has been revealed in a new study. Sleep deprived people often opt for bigger portion sizes.
The study included 16 men of normal weight, who were asked to pick how much food they wanted from a buffet style presentation of meals and snacks. The first time the men chose was after they had 8 hours of sleep and then they chose again after being deprived of sleep.
The results revealed that the men chose bigger portions of food when they were sleep deprived than after 8 hours of sleep. Participants reported feeling hungrier when they had a lack of sleep. Researchers found the men had increased blood levels of the hormone, gherlin, which stimulates hunger.
Sleep deprivation enhances the amount of food we eat regardless of satiety, leading to long-term health effects. Other research has shown that not only does getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night causes increases in gherlin but, it also decreases insulin sensitivity.
Although some foods can seem too good to pass up, it is important to make sure we don’t go overboard. Protecting yourself from obesity can start with getting the correct amount of sleep. Obesity is linked to sleep apnea, which can bring along even more health issues.
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