More bad news when it comes to teens, weight problems and sleep deprivation: A new study has found that teenagers who get less than eight hours of sleep on weeknights are more likely to eat fatty and high-calorie foods than are teens who get eight hours of sleep or more. Over time, the unhealthy patterns can become habits and lead to weight gain.
“It’s not clear why sleeping less may send teens to the fridge more often. One explanation involves the hormones leptin and ghrelin, which regulate appetite. Not getting enough sleep has been shown to reduce the production of these hormones, which can make a person feel hungrier and fuel cravings for high-calorie snacks.” [Source: Health.com]
Cultural and social norms affect teens eating habits as well, but this latest study makes a compelling case for the importance of getting a good night’s sleep.
Labels: weight_gain, sleep, snacks
Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton
