Sleep and weight gain

Charlyn Fargo, Contributor

Can lack of sleep really lead to weight gain? Many, but not all, studies do show a link between lack of sleep and increased chances of being overweight among children and young or middle-aged adults.

There may be several reasons for this. It's possible that people who are overweight or obese are more likely to have lifestyles that include less sleep - perhaps because of working jobs with long, late hours or extended TV viewing, for example.

Choices

However, research suggests that lack of sleep (usually referring to less than six or seven hours a night in adults) can lead to choices that make weight control a challenge, such as when fatigue causes us to be less active or grab extra sweet drinks and snacks. Or staying up could mean longer hours and more time to eat. There are studies suggesting that lack of sleep can even lead to hormonal changes, which increase appetite and the depositing of fat around the waist.

Not everyone's weight seems equally affected by lack of sleep, but if you are short on sleep and gaining weight, getting to bed earlier may bring a variety of health benefits. Naps can also boost health, but so far no link has been found to weight control.

- American Institute for Cancer Research

Charlyn Fargo is a registered dietitian at www.creators.com.