Study: Sleeping Less Can Make You Obese

“But it is also a problem for teenagers in whom the need for sleep increases during this critical developmental period,” he says. Citing another piece of research he says that “levels of leptin, a hormone produced by fat tissue when energy stores are low, were more than 15 per cent lower in those sleeping five hours compared with those clocking up eight. Similarly, ghrelin, a hormone released by the stomach to signal hunger was almost 15 per cent higher in those with a five-hour sleep quota. Sleep loss also disturbs other hormones, including insulin, cortisol (stress hormone) and growth hormone,” says Taheri, who adds “hormonal changes could boost the desire for carlorie rich foods.”

Poor sleep sets up a vicious cycle. It leads to fatigue, then reduces levels of physical activity and lowers energy expenditure. Finally, it leads to obesity, which itself leads to poor sleep.

True dat. Double true.

My friend, who's a doctor, used to note that sleeping burned so many calories per hour. Not many. Let's say it burns 100 per hour. Anyway, he'd joke that if he ate a lot of high-calorie junk food, he'd just "sleep a few extra hours to burn that extra weight off."

Maybe not so much of a joke as first imagined.

By the way... This was my favorite demotivational poster, by BumperStickerist.

Because it speaks to me.

It's true.

I am so jealous of people who have such an easy time sleeping.

posted by Ace at 07:13 PM

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