Short sleep makes you hungrier
A bad night shifts appetite hormones. Taking care of sleep helps you keep fasting.
The classic study
In one experiment, two nights of 4-hour sleep lowered leptin (the satiety hormone), raised ghrelin (the hunger hormone) and increased appetite, especially for energy-dense foods.
What to do
- If you slept badly, it is a good day for a shorter fast.
- Log your sleep: in "Your patterns" the app compares how much you slept before days you reached your goal and days you did not.
- Regular bedtimes and less screen time before bed help. Both are suggested habits.
Sources
- Spiegel K et al. Sleep curtailment in healthy young men is associated with decreased leptin levels, elevated ghrelin levels, and increased hunger and appetite. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(11):846-850.
General information; not a substitute for a health professional.