Sleep-deprived people ‘consume more calories’

Sleep deprivation has been shown to be associated with a higher calorie intake the following day in a new study.

The King's College London research compiled the results of 11 studies with a total of 172 participants to determine where sleep restrictions had an impact on a person's energy intake over the next 24 hours.

Sleep-deprived people were shown to consume an average of 385 kcal extra per day extra – equivalent to the calories of about four-and-a-half slices of bread – with no change in the amount of energy they used up.

People who slept less were also shown to consume proportionately higher amounts of fat and lower levels of protein, with no change in their carbohydrate intake. All of these factors may contribute to weight gain over time.

Haya Al Khatib, lead author and PhD candidate at King's College London, said: "Our results highlight sleep as a potential third factor, in addition to diet and exercise, to target weight gain more effectively."

This comes after a previous study indicated that partial sleep deprivation can result in greater activation of areas in the brain associated with reward when exposed to food.

With over 20 years of experience within the science market, we at Zenopa have the knowledge, skills and expertise to help find the right job for you. To find out more about the current science roles we have available, you can search for the latest job roles, register your details, or contact the team today.