Study says that sleep-deprived people eat more

March 24th, 2011 - 11:34 pm ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt  

New York, Mar 24 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Researchers at the Columbia University have concluded that sleep-deprived people tend to eat more than when they have had enough sleep.

For years scientists have been baffled by the connection that exists between lack of sleep and weight gain. It is believed that people who lack adequate sleep disrupt their hormone processes which are vital to metabolism and appetite control.

The study and its findings were presented during the American Heart Association meeting held on the 23rd of March.

The researchers studied 26 men and women whose weights were considered normal. The participants were then divided into two groups with the first group ordered to sleep only 4 hours per night. The other group was also mandated to sleep 9 hours nightly. The study lasted for six days. The researchers controlled the diets of both groups during the first four nights. They were then allowed to eat whatever they wanted on the last two nights.

The outcome was that the men in the group who had been deprived from sleeping ate on average 262 calories more than their counterparts who were not deprived of sleep. The intake of calories in women was much higher at 328 compared to those who had adequate sleep.

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