Are you obese because of a lack of sleep?

Older adults that are obese could be so because they aren't getting enough sleep, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Chicago claim that a lack of sleep impacts upon appetite, glucose metabolism and blood pressure, bringing about many of the predispositions needed for obesity.

Dr Kristen Knutson, researcher on the study, stated: "Obesity develops when energy intake is greater than expenditure.

"Diet and physical activity play an important part in this, but an additional factor may be inadequate sleep."

Failing to get enough rest re-regulates a person's appetite and causes them to consumer greater amounts of energy, thus causing obesity.

The discovery was made as a result of a series of experimental and observational sleep studies, which showed that the side of the brain that controls appetite changes under sleep restriction.

Thus, older adults looking to lose some pounds should ensure that they are consistently getting the right amount of rest each night.

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