Research

Hormonal

Sleep restriction (SR) increases energy intake by 300–550 kcal/day and alters hormonal signaling (increased ghrelin, decreased leptin, reduced GLP-1) and brain reward network activity, leading to a positive energy balance and weight gain.

If you are struggling to lose weight or control your appetite, check your sleep duration. Getting less than 7 hours of sleep can significantly increase your hunger hormones and drive you to eat more calories, particularly from high-fat and high-carb foods. Prioritizing 7-8 hours of sleep is a critical, often overlooked, component of any weight loss strategy.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
We, and others, have shown that the degree of overeating is in the order of 300–550 kcal/d... Hormone, neuronal and behavioural data suggest enhanced susceptibility to overconsumption under states of inadequate sleep.
Marie‐Pierre St‐Onge · Obesity Reviews · 2017

Why this rating

Supported by multiple clinical intervention studies and meta-analyses, though heterogeneity exists.

Source

Sleep–obesity relation: underlying mechanisms and consequences for treatment

Marie‐Pierre St‐Onge · Obesity Reviews · 2017

DOI 10.1111/obr.12499

narrative_reviewCited 235×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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