Slimming slumber? How sleep deprivation manipulates appetite and weight

In America's fast-paced society, sleep is sometimes viewed as a lazy luxury; however, recent research shows that sleep is more than a passive time sink. Accumulating research indicates that long-term sleep loss is associated with the development of obesity and diabetes. Moreover, several experimental sleep loss studies show that total and partial sleep deprivation may modulate hormone secretions that impact glucose utilization and insulin sensitivity, appetite regulation, and resting energy expenditure. In addition to insulin, circulating leptin, ghrelin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and cortisol levels are influenced by sleep patterns. Collectively, hormone manipulations observed with sleep loss may predispose individuals to obesity and type 2 diabetes.