Impact of Sleep Restriction on Food Intake and Food Choice

Several studies have demonstrated significant associations between sleep deficiency and obesity. The mechanisms by which short sleep duration affects food intake and food choice to contribute to weight gain have been explored using experimental manipulations of sleep. These experimental models have revealed that sleep duration affects not only subjective hunger and appetite but also actual food intake. Indeed, the endocrine and neural processes that regulate feeding behavior have been shown to be influenced by sleep restriction. In particular, levels of hormones involved in the homeostatic regulation of appetite, namely leptin and ghrelin, are altered. Moreover, in a state of sleep debt caloric intake exceeds energy need, suggesting the involvement of additional systems. In fact, sleep restriction appears to alter brain reward systems and preference for highly palatable, rewarding foods, an affect perhaps mediated, in part, by the endocannabinoid system. This chapter reviews the epidemiological evidence and laboratory findings that support a role for sleep duration in mediating feeding behavior, as well as explores the potential mechanisms by which sleep duration affects food intake and food choice, thus contributing to the increased prevalence of obesity.