Healthline: There is a growing body of evidence that links sleep health to weight control.
According to a 2013 research review, there’s an association between sleep loss and an increased risk of weight gain and obesity. Moreover, another small 2013 study found that healthy adults who only slept for 5 hours per night for 5 nights gained an average of 1.8 pounds.
Results from a small 2016 randomized controlled trial found that a lack of sleep can increase your desire to eat more high calorie foods and decrease your ability to resist them.
More specifically, researchers found that less sleep altered levels of endocannabinoid, which are chemical signals that affect your appetite and your brain’s reward system.
This was most notable on the days participants were sleep-deprived, when endocannabinoid levels were both higher and lasted longer, particularly in the afternoon.
