While several studies have pointed to a possible connection between poor sleep habits and weight gain, scientists have identified a hormone that stimulates appetite and is affected when people do not sleep properly.
UCLA researchers studied the level of ghrelin, a hormone in the stomach that increases appetite, among both insomniacs and those with healthy sleeping patterns.
They found that levels of the hormone were 30 percent lower among insomniacs, a decrease that Dr Sarosh Motivala hypothesizes may cause a resultant swing the next day with increased appetite, and in another hormone that drives fat storage in the body.
A previous study from UC Irvine found a link between the circadian rhythms of the body and how energy is transported, leading to another possible avenue for how the body is affected by poor sleep as the effects on cells led to changes in how they functioned, said Dr Paolo Sassone-Corsi
For people looking to get a better nights rest, some may consider an herbal supplement containing kava, a botanical that may show promise in reducing anxiety.