Lack of sleep is associated with a wide range of health issues, including obesity. Dr. Clete Cushida with the Stanford Sleep Center says the two appetite regulating hormones leptin and ghrelin are affected when we don't get enough sleep and that can lead to weight problems.
A study out of Wisconsin found that persons sleeping less than 8 hours per night had an increased body mass index (BMI) proportional to the decreased sleep, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The two main areas of concern when considering your daily sleep cycle are how well you're resting and how long you're able to sleep—quality and quantity.
"The quantity you have some control over," said Cushida. "But, if you do have persistant issues with sleep quality or daytime fatigue and sleepyness, really you should try and get that resolved by either seing your primary care physician or a sleep center."
