The Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health released research results from multiple studies that affirm correlations between sleep deprivation and overeating. The relationship between sleep and eating patterns is not a new concept. The research, however, defined further what researchers already knew. In one study conducted Nurses’ Health, participants of the study who slept five hours or less had a 15% higher risk of obesity, compared to participants who slept more than seven hours a night. Although sleep deprived people exercise less when they are tired, thereby burning less calories, other factors contribute to obesity. One of the most important results of sleep deprivation is the hormonal imbalance that affects appetite, which in turn makes people hungrier. Other studies confirm how sleeping less than seven hours a night and not allowing the brain to experience REM sleep (rapid eye movement associated with healthy dream cycles) a night boosts “distracted eating” and carbohydrate consumption.
And just a reminder: you cannot store sleep, which means you cannot “make up” for missed sleep hours on the weekends or days off of work. Some tips for sleeping better include: keeping the room you sleep in dark, lying on your back to sleep, set the room temperature between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, avoid or limit daytime naps, eat healthy, alcohol before bed, exercise early in the day, and establish a routine for sleeping (to bed at the same time each night). If you continue to struggle falling asleep, experts emphasize the importance of consulting with your physician before self-medicating with over-the-counter supplements.