Can Obesity and Lack of Sleep Be Linked?

We have all experienced the effects that lack of sleep can have on the body. We feel groggy, fatigued, have trouble concentrating, and are often irritable. But did you know that lack of sleep could actually be linkedobesity?

Today, most of us lead high stress lives. We are always on the go. We work long hours, run errands, spend time with our family, take care of household duties, and then try to make time for our friends. We are on the go all day long, working, working, working. We come home, work a bit more, fall into bed late, and then wake-up early the next morning ready to do it all over again. According to an article in USA Today, the average American only gets about 6½ hours of sleep each night.

In 2004, J. Scheen, M. M. Byrne, L. Plat, R. Leproult and E. Van Cauter, from the Department of Medicine, at the University of Chicago conducted the first ever study regarding a possible link between sleep and weight gain. The study involved 12 men in their early to mid 20's and lasted for several nights. For two nights they were only allowed to sleep for 4 hours. Then, for 2 nights they were each allowed to sleep for 10 hours.

The researchers found the results to be remarkable. After the tests were conducted, it was concluded that lack of sleep disrupts two hormones, which regulate appetite. The first, leptin, a hormone that tells the brain when it is time to eat, and ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger are the two hormones effected. The study showed that those who slept for only four hours for two nights had an 18% reduction in leptin. Therefore their bodies became confused as to when it was time to eat. In addition, they also had a 28% increase in ghrelin, which means that they felt hungry more often.

It was also discovered that they also ate more foods high in carbohydrates, calories, fat and sugar. Although the reasoning for this is not completely known, it is believed that because the brain is fueled by glucose. Lack of this paired with the disruption in the two hormones leptin and ghrelin, may have caused the brain to seek out simple carbohydrates and sugary foods when distressed by lack of sleep.

In addition to this, another separate study was conducted based on weight and sleep. It was found that the more people weigh, the less they sleep. It was determined that those who sleep less than five hours per night had an average of 14.9 more ghrelin and 15.5% lower leptin levels than those who sleep 8 hours. Therefore, not only do they crave food more, but also they have less of the hormone in the body that tells the brain when its time to stop eating, or when eating is not necessary.

According to Dr. Mercola, those who sleep less than 4 hours have a 73% risk of becoming obese. Those who sleep at least 5 hours have a 50% risk, and those who sleep at least 6 hours have a 23% chance of becoming obese.

Considering the statistic from USA Today, which claims that the average American only gets approximately 6 ½ hours of sleep, it would appear that many of us have at least a 23% chance of becoming obese, simply because we are not getting enough rest.

In addition, there are various studies, which suggest the link between stress and weight gain. It is quite clear to those of us who survive on little sleep that lack of rest can add to stress. Therefore, it is even more important that we all get the appropriate amount of rest. Not only can lack of sleep lead to obesity, but it can add to our stress levels, which can also lead to weight gain.

Resources

Dr. Mercola. Lack of Sleep Strongly Linked to Obesity.

USA Today.Sleep Study