Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Fatigue Can Make You Fat

Tired research subjects ate hundreds more calories per day

By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 16, 2012 7:47 PM CDT

(Newser) – You better be sleeping enough or you'll plump up, say scientists: Tiredness and sleep-deprivation may lead to snacking. A new study by the Mayo Clinic found that people who got less sleep than a normal night consumed hundreds more calories the next day compared to people who get a full night's rest, and the fatigued did not appear to burn off the extra calories, reports the Daily Mail.

Researchers split 17 healthy young people into two groups. For eight nights, half of the subjects slept normally and the other half snoozed for an hour and 20 minutes less. The tired group ate an average of 549 additional calories per day. "Sleep deprivation is a growing problem, with 28% of adults now reporting that they get six or fewer hours of sleep per night," says one investigator.

Skimping on the zzzzzz's may make you consume more calories.
Skimping on the zzzzzz's may make you consume more calories.   (Shutterstock)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
1%
66%
16%
5%
5%
5%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
BrushMan
Mar 17, 2012 10:14 AM CDT
I lost over 40 lbs by making it my "religion" to hike vigorously for an hour every day in nearby foothills. After a few months my appetite actually decreased. Both myself and the dogs are healthy and normal weight. The only answer to loosing weight is to burn more calories than you take in.
Winston_Smith
Mar 16, 2012 11:29 PM CDT
Well, they could have just given me a call if they wanted to make it 18, I've had these problems for years.  This is why it can be so hard for those of us with sleep apnea to lose weight, even though doing so often helps with the condition.  You get much hungrier more often after a bad night's sleep, especially if you have to work that day.  In addition, you often can't really concentrate unless you eat something.  It's a vicious circle--being overweight causes sleep problems, which makes you more overweight, which causes even more sleep problems.  
VolOtog
Mar 16, 2012 11:03 PM CDT
They tested 17 people....
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   World History Project   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne