Like most of our sleep schedules, this post will be short. If you’re used to an input-output view of weight management, you’re missing some big parts of the picture (namely, genetic factors, environmental factors, and what this article focuses on, neuroendocrine factors). Let’s see how sleep impacts weight.
We must first learn about two hormones our body produces. First is ghrelin. Ghrelin, also known as the “hunger hormone”, stimulates our appetite and tells us it’s time to eat. Second is leptin. Leptin is what tells us to stop eating. You can think, “Ghrelin go! Leptin stop.”
When we are deprived of sleep, we disturb our normal production of these two hormones. More specifically, we start to produce more ghrelin and less leptin, leading to overeating, often without us even realizing it. This is why it’s more tempting to reach for high-calorie foods, like cookies, when we’re not getting enough sleep. And since we produce less leptin, we don’t feel full as easily, leading us to eat more and more.
When this happens for too long, it can lead to insulin resistance, which causes diabetes. Overeating can also lead to obesity and other chronic conditions.
Sleep impacts just about every facet of health we can think of, and depriving ourselves too often increases our risk of mortality and serious(ly bad) health conditions. Luckily for us, sleep is free. It’s up to each of us as individuals if we want to prioritize it.
