Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Sleepy people eat more: study


People suffering from sleep deprivation are likely to be unable to resist high calorie foods, a study found. -- PHOTO: AP

PEOPLE suffering from sleep deprivation are likely to be unable to resist high calorie foods, a study found.

Inadequate sleep leads to an increase in the hormone ghrelin, which tells you when to eat, and a decrease in the hormone leptin, which tells you to stop eating, Shelby Freedman Harris, the author of the report, said.


People suffering from lack of sleep have less leptin and more ghrelin. The imbalance of hormones drives them to keep on eating, she added.

She also advised people to reduce caffeine and alcohol intake and to exercise at least five hours before going to bed and of course, more sleep.

Other researchers said the findings make sense.

They said that high calorie foods only provide a sudden burst of energy. This explains why sleepy people prefer these types of food.

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