Why does lack of sleep contribute to obesity?

Question

I know that there have been studies that show that people who get 6 hours or less sleep a night are more likely to be overweight than people who get 8 or more, but what is the reason?

Do the people who get less sleep overeat to compensate or does the metabolism slow?

Answer 1

Well, not getting a full night's rest is stressful for the body because it doesn't have enough time to regenerate and what not. As a result of the body being stressed, the body releases a stress hormone, and this stress hormone causes us to eat more. You know how people either eat too much or eat too little when they're stressed? This is one of those eat too much times.

Answer 2

when you wake up, people are naturally hungry most of the time. When someone wakes up, from 6 hours or less of sleep they tend to eat breakfast, a early lunch, a meal before dinner, then dinner. Try to get an 8 - 10 hour sleep.

Answer 3

I heard that the reason that people who get less than 8 hours of sleep tend to be overweight more often is that getting less sleep causes your appetite to increase when you are awake.

Answer 4

Metabolism is alot slower, no activity pretty much puts the body to sleep and if your lazy then your mind is not working to much either watching TV and eating dont use that much brain activity. plus dont forget over weight people have at tendency to take naps so sleeping at night is less likely

Answer 5

Usually because your body does not get the proper rest needed to make sure that it is functioning at full capacity. Also the digestive system does most of its work you are sleeping, so a lack of sleep can contribute to and an inefficient digestive system which results in extra storage of fat.

Answer 6

one thing is you cannot eat when you are asleep.
that's just one factor, i'm sure the others are true, too.
but if you stay up 2 more hours you will probably have a snack.
any activity you do INSTEAD of eat i think helps you be less obese.
and yes, food and sleep both 'give energy' so they can substitute for each other a little bit. if you are feeling tired, eating is one idea.

Answer 7

The metabolism slows when you do not sleep enough along with eating more... You are tired but start to think you are just hungry... That is what I was told anyway

Answer 8

because the longer you sleep, the longer you don't eat... if you get up in the middle of the night to watch a show and grab a snack there you go

Answer 9

I believe that they over eat or eat high calorie foods in effort to boost their energy - which is short-lived and they have to re-medicate w/ food more again. Because they always feel like they have no energy or low energy they don't exercise - which just helps to increase weight.

Answer 10

I've heard of sleep-walking, sleep-apnea and plain old sleep-deprivation but never have I heard of sleep-eating.