How does sleep affect appetite?

Ghrelin is the hunger hormone that is responsible for making you feel hungry. When the stomach is empty, it signals this to the brain via ghrelin, causing you to search for food. After you’ve eaten, ghrelin levels decrease, and hunger signals stop.

If you’ve had a night of poor sleep, it can increase the levels of ghrelin in your body. This is part of the stress response that your body elicits to overcome tiredness and keep you safe, and it’s this response that causes you to feel especially hungry when you’re lacking sleep.

As part of a weight management strategy, remember to focus on great sleep hygiene!