We Don't Get Enough Sleep - We Eat More Sweets
Author: Maryam Ayres
Time for reading: ~1
minutes
Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
The Brain Reward Center is being activated, according to a study by Columbia University.
With sleep problems, we become significantly more vulnerable to food temptations , according to scientists.
People who fail to get enough hours of sleep are more likely to eat donuts and other types of junk food .
The Brain Reward Center is more likely to be activated in participants who do not get enough sleep and indulge in junk food, according to a study by Columbia University.
Researchers performed functional magnetic resonance imaging on 25 normal-weight men and women, while participants looked at pictures of healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, and unhealthy ones, such as pizza, donuts, and pastries.
The scans were performed after five consecutive nights, during which the volunteers' sleep was limited to four hours and then extended to nine hours .
Comparing the results, it was found that short sleep stimulates appetite and unhealthy eating. The desire to eat sweet and salty temptations increases after a period of sleep deprivation.
Ensuring a good night's sleep , about 7-8 hours a night, is important for maintaining weight, as it prevents the accumulation of extra pounds and obesity, scientists advise.
This is not the first time research has shown that limited sleep is linked to the risk of weight problems.
According to researchers from Boston, regular sleep deprivation is associated with a tendency to gain weight. Changes in the body's metabolism can cause weight gain. To some extent, this may explain why some people tend to gain weight and sleep problems with age, as well as why night work increases the risk of being overweight, scientists say.
The problem with impaired metabolism due to lack of sleep is provoked by increased secretion of ghrelin - a hormone that stimulates appetite. On the other hand, the synthesis of leptin , the appetite suppressant hormone, is suppressed.
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