Sleep deprivation and obesity among adolescents and young adults: A review study

Modern man is experiencing two parallel processes, decreasing the average sleep duration and increasing the body mass index. Sleep as an important process plays an important role in most bodily functions. Human and animal research suggests that short sleep duration is a new risk factor for weight gain and obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on obesity among children and adolescents.

The electronic search strategy was created and completed by the researcher and the results of the studies were reviewed. Computer search was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar with the keywords: sleep deprivation, sleep deprivation, Short sleep, Sleep duration, Insomnia, Obesity, Weight gain and Body mass index.

The results of research analysis support the theory that insufficient sleep leads to disturbances in internal hormones, energy balance and weight gain, and can predict weight gain.

Sleep deprivation may affect body weight through appetite by affecting hormones that play a role in energy balance. The association between short sleep and obesity is greater in those 27 and under. This shows the importance of night sleep, which is one of the influential factors associated with obesity and overweight, especially among children and adolescents.