Sleepy people aren’t hungry but still likely to get fat
From
Beverly Mills
| June 13, 2009
In Healthy Living
Perhaps the lack of zzz’s is spawning an obsession, but the link between insomnia and weight gain is sort of fascinating. So here’s our latest factoid:
If you’re sleep deprived, you’re not as hungry, but you tend to gain weight anyway. How fair is that?
According to new reports Monday at Sleep 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, researchers were surprised people did not crave carbs after sleep deprivation. (Previous research had suggested sleepless nights would release your inner Cookie Monster.) However, these new stats indicate that although not sleeping doesn’t make you hungry or crave carbs, you’ll probably gain weight anyway if you don’t get your 7 to 8 hours per night.
Why? Apparently it’s that old Seafood Diet problem. When I see food, I eat. Or in researcher speak:
“The ability to snack for longer due to reduction in time spent asleep” might have caused the weight gain.
Or it might have been the fact that sitting around in a sleep lab meant the subjects didn't get enough exercise. Duh!
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