Sleep is vital to function well throughout the day and plays a significant role in health and weight. Getting regular, quality sleep can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and weight. Sleep deficiency can cause immediate damage (like an accident) or long term damage (like increase risk for chronic health problems). There is an important connection between sleep and weight. If you want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, make sure you get enough sleep.

Sleep deprivation impacts your weight in several ways. People that don’t get enough sleep tend to have increased levels of hunger and decreased levels of fullness. This can cause an individual to overeat and gain weight. It is also common for people to snack more and be less active when they are not getting regular, quality sleep. Some individuals eat more to help them stay awake throughout the day. There is a greater chance you will reach for the sugary beverage or snack to get a burst of energy when feeling tired. Unfortunately, that energy is short lived and people are more likely to feel an increase in fatigue later on.

Sleep deprivation can also impact an individual’s decision making skills. When you feel sleepy or tired, you are less likely to think carefully about your food choices and more likely to make impulsive decisions. Making healthy decisions is more difficult because you can’t assess situations as well and pick the right behavior. Therefore, you might reach for foods higher in carbohydrates and fats with little thought about how these foods will impact your weight, health, or mood.