Too Little and Too Much Sleep Makes You Fat

A study from Laval University in Quebec, Canada found that nightly sleep duration predicted future weight gain. Getting too little or too much sleep at night increases the risk of obesity. They examined nearly 300 adults, organized according to their typical sleep duration: short, 5-6 hours; average, 7-8 hours; and long 9-10 hours. Short sleep duration increased the risk of obesity by 27%, while long sleep duration increased it by 21 percent compared to average sleep duration. The results were not influenced by energy intake or daily exercise. During the six year study, short and long duration sleepers were more likely to gain 11 pounds or more than people who slept 7-8 hours per night. Good sleep patterns are critical for weight control. Get a good night's sleep every night. Avoid caffeine in the late afternoon and evening. Sleep in a dark, quiet room, avoid vigorous exercise before bedtime and get up at the same time every morning. Establishing consistent sleep patterns will make you feel better and helps control body fat.

I read this article from Muscular Development.