The body of your dreams may be closer than you think. Hormones in the body effect how you sleep and have been connected to inability to lose weight .  The hormones Leptin and Ghrelin work together to control sensations of hunger and fullness. Leptin, produced in fat cells, sends a signal to the brain when you are full and Ghrelin, which is produced in the gastrointestinal tract, stimulates appetite. When you don't get enough sleep, your Leptin levels drop, and you don’t feel the sensation of being full after you eat. In correlation, sleep deprivation also causes Ghrelin in the body to rise, which means your appetite is stimulated, thus creating a double whammy which can lead to over eating.

In a study by the University of Chicago, doctors noted levels of Leptin, Ghrelin, hunger and appetite in 12 healthy men. They were then subjected to two days of sleep deprivation followed by two days of extended sleep. When lacking sleep, Leptin levels went down and Ghrelin levels went up. Their craving for high carb, high calorie foods increased by 45%. Another study by Stanford University revealed that those who slept less had low levels of Leptin, high levels of Ghrelin and higher level of body fat.

So how can we possible stop this from happening? If you can’t think of anything we’ll let you sleep on it. Sleep on it! As doctors learn more about the correlation between lack of sleep and weight issues, it can’t hurt for those trying to lose weight to catch a few extra hours of sleep.  You may discover that you aren't as hungry and can cut down your caloric intake.

Now it’s just getting to sleep that is the issue.  Stressors in everyday life can make settling down for the evening harder than usual; luckily for us, there are many sleep aides available, both natural and prescription, that can help you wind down to get that much needed rest.