It could be! Dr. Donald D. Hensrud, chair of the Division of Preventive, Occupational and Aerospace Medicine answers in detail. Recent studies have suggested an association between sleep duration and weight gain. Sleeping less than five hours - or more than nine hours - a night appears to increase the likelihood of weight gain. In one study, recurrent sleep deprivation in men increased their preferences for high-calorie foods and their overall calorie intake. In another study, women who slept less than six hours a night or more than nine hours were more likely to gain 11 pounds (5 kilos) compared with women who slept 7 hours a night. Other studies have found similar patterns in children and adolescents. One explanation might be that sleep duration affects hormones regulating hunger - ghrelin and leptin - and stimulates the appetite. Another contributing factor might be that lack of sleep leads to fatigue and results in less physical activity. So now you have another reason to get a good night's sleep!   Download the Grow Fit app on Google Play or App Store today for a free consultation with diet specialists.

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