Sleep Deprivation and Weight Gain

Last week a blogger wrote in response to my blog on microwave ovens and how they may be a link to obesity, but she also mentioned a pertinent fact on how lack of sleep is a problem with weight gain.

Studies have definitely made the link of lack of sleep, to weight gain, a lowered immune system and heart disease issues. Much of this has to do with the physiological response to the body, but there is definitely a psychological component to all this as well.

I know when I am tired, everything suffers. It starts with my mood. I'm certainly not as happy. I might even be on the depressed side. If I'm not depressed it certainly doesn’t take much to push me there! Also being tired makes me more prone to wanting "something for an energy pick me up" and it's not anything usually healthy.  And who feels like cooking when they are that exhausted? I don’t even want to tell you how I do with temptation. It's non-existent.  Then there's the issue of exercise, who wants to exercise when they can barely crawl out of bed?

None of these things help us manage our weight any easier. I know I certainly don’t need studies to prove its link to weight gain!