Lack of sleep can lead to obesity
A BAD night’s rest can trigger obesity, scientists have discovered.
They found a lack of sleep causes major changes in brain activity, sparking cravings for high-calorie food.
The findings suggest simply getting eight hours a night could be the key to staying trim.
Researchers from the University of California used brain imaging to study the responses of sleep-deprived people as they were shown images of both low and high-calorie foods.
Weary individuals had more brain activity in areas associated with the motivation to eat. But less activity was seen in those areas that help us to choose healthy food, resulting in increased desire for high-calorie treats.
The results are published in the journal Nature Communications.
Other studies have shown that poor sleep increases the levels of hormones linked to weight gain. People crave sugary and fatty foods as they struggle with lack of concentration and tiredness.
Britain has Europe’s highest rates of obesity.
