Sleep Deprivation Leads to Food Indulgence

The amount of sleep that you get can indeed have the power to influence your food preferences. A Swedish study found that men who were sleep-derived chose to buy more calorie-dense foods. The researchers concluded that this is a mechanism through which sleep deprivation promotes weight gain.

The Swedish researchers recruited 16 study participants, of whom the mean age was 23 ±0.8years, body mass index was 23.4± 0.5kg/m² and all non-smokers. All study participants were involved in both the control setting where they got adequate sleep (8 hours per night) and the experimental setting where they were deprived of sleep (1 hour of sleep per night). At baseline, which is the day before the study began, study participants all received the same diet and slept for 8 ±2 hours in a controlled study unit. The sleep-deprived participants only received 1hour of sleep, and they were given a selection of movies, games, and books to ensure that they stayed awake that night.

The sleep-deprived participants were then engaged in a supermarket task the next day after receiving a standardized breakfast. They were given 300 Swedish Kronor in a theoretical setting and given the choice of purchasing different foods that varied in calories and mass based on looking at pictures of food taken at the supermarket. Those who were sleep-deprived chose foods that were both high in calories and mass. They also had increased levels of the hormone ghrelin in their blood, which is the hormone responsible for sending the hunger signal to the hypothalamus in the brain.

Sleep deprivation causes altered food-purchasing behavior because the sleep-deprived participants preferred foods that are higher in calories and mass. It also signals the brain to eat. Therefore, based on these two findings, it is best to get around eight hours of good sleep per night. If you or your spouse suspects that you have sleep apnea, see a pulmnologist to discuss your treatment options. Our sleep products, which contain natural compounds to balance neurotransmitters and to induce calmness, will be the most suitable to help you reach your deep sleep cycle.

Source:

• Benedict C, et al “Acute sleep deprivation increases food purchasing in men” Obesity 2013; DOI: 10.1002/oby.20579.