Lack of Sleep Causes Weight Gain

For years, the link between lack of sleep and weight gain has become more and more apparent. Recent research by Dr. Siobhan Banks, PhD, solidified the relationship between lack of sleep and obesity. The most significant aspect of Dr. Banks' findings may be the short amount of time needed for weight gain to take effect. Healthy adults whose sleep was restricted for as little as 9 days gained an average of 2.9 lbs.

Many studies have resulted in similar findings indicating that weight gain and risk of diabetes have a direct relation with lack of sleep. If you're not getting enough sleep, it is time to address the issue. Your restlessness could be causing weight gain and may be severely increasing your risk of diabetes.

Siobhan Banks, PhD, is a research fellow at the University of South Australia and former assistant research professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Click here for more groundbreaking health research. Visit our Healthy Facts page for more tips from BistroMD's doctor and team of dietitians. BistroMD is diet delivery company founded by weight loss specialist Caroline J. Cederquist, M.D. BistroMD delivers balanced, gourmet diet meals directly to customers' homes.

(Srinivasan S, Sadegh L, Elle I, Christensen A, Faergeman N, Ashrafi K. Serotonin regulates c. Elegans fat and feeding through independent molecular mechanisms. Cell Metab. 2008 Jun, 7(6):533-44.)