Can you lose weight by sleeping for longer?

If we make poor food choices when we’re tired, does it follow that repeatedly not getting enough sleep could lead to issues with weight gain and obesity?

“There are enough big signals about what pre-empts weight gain and Type 2 diabetes that we can say if you’re not getting enough sleep on a regular basis, it strongly looks likely it will cause a problem,” says Professor Scott.

Research that backs this up has been produced by Dr Erin Hanlon, Research Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago, and her colleagues. In 2016, they wanted to see if sleep deprivation impacts chemical signals which, in turn, make people crave high-carbohydrate and high-fat foods.

With existing research often focussing on how poor sleep impacts levels of the hormones ghrelin (which stimulates appetite) and leptin (which tells you you’re full), the scientists wanted to measure another chemical signal: endocannabinoid (eCB) â€" which is associated with making us crave ‘highly-palatable’ foods.

Their study found that when sleep deprived, the participants’ eCB levels were increased and amplified. The result? The participants started reaching for unhealthy snacks because they didn’t feel full.

Looking back at the study and other research carried out, Dr Hanlon says “I personally feel confident there is a link between sleep deficiency and increased feeding, and moreover that sleep deficiency is one of the contributing factors in the rise in obesity”.

This view is backed up by other experts. “In large population studies, insufficient sleep (be it poor sleep quality or short sleep duration) is related to significantly worse lo ng-term health outcomes, including higher incidence and prevalence of diabetes, increased prevalence of obesity and cardiovascular disease, and poorer mental health outcomes”, explains Dr Iuliana Hartescu, a member of Loughborough University’s Clinical Sleep Research Unit.

Dr Hartescu has studied the relationship between exercise, diet and sleep, which she describes as a ‘health trinity’. Her advice for those wanting to improve their diet and fitness levels? Before you start that health kick, make sure you’ve got your sleep routine under control. “When you’re more rested, you’re more likely to be physically active, more likely to eat at the right times of the day, and more likely not to let fatigue interfere with your motivation to stick to your diet.”