If you need more convincing to finally fix your sleep deprivation problem, here it is: A new sleep study has found people who lose a lot of sleep eat more fatty foods and gain more weight.


The study, from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, confirms several other similar studies conducted over the past few years. This one is pretty significant, because it used the largest, most diverse sample to date—225 healthy adults ages 22 to 50—and it was done in a controlled sleep lab.

Sleep Deprivation Could Lead to Heavier Eating If you eat a little more than you'd like to, getting more sleep at night might help curb your… Read more


The researchers found that on the days the subjects were restricted to four hours of sleep, they ate more meals, chose fattier foods, and shifted eating to later in the night. After five consecutive nights of this, they gained an average of 2.2 pounds.

The solution, of course, is to try to sleep more (or end your sleep problems). It might even help you lose weight.

Effects of Sleep Restriction on Weight Gain, Caloric Intake, and Meal Timing | Sleep Journal via NBC

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