Sleeping less makes you eat more!

Evidence shows an increase in obesity is related to a reduction in average sleep duration among Americans. Although clinical studies propose that restricted sleep affects hormones related to appetite, neuronal activity in response to food stimuli after restricted and habitual sleep has not been investigated. In this study, thirty healthy, normal-weight [BMI (in kg/m2): 22–26] men and women were recruited (26 completed) to participate in a 2-phase inpatient crossover study in which they spent either 4 h/night (restricted sleep) or 9 h/night (habitual sleep) in bed. Each phase lasted 6 days. Results showed that response to food stimuli was greater after restricted sleep than after habitual sleep. In addition, a relative increase in brain activity in areas associated with reward, in response to food stimuli, was observed. http://www.ajcn.org/content/95/4/818.abstract