Are you plagued by sleep deprivation? In the past forty years, the American obesity epidemic has risen from one in nine adults to one in three. Now consider that the same time frame has seen a decrease in the amount of sleep that Americans get, by up to two hours each night!

This problem is not just about American adults. A recent study was conducted at the University of British Columbia and showed grim results. Adults that sleep less than seven hours a night are significantly more likely to be obese. This study was conducted on adults between the ages of 32 and 49.

These alarming statistics concerning sleep deprivation all boil down to two hormones called ghrelin and leptin. Let's take a closer look at these two culprits.

Leptin is responsible for regulating energy expenditure and energy intake. It's main function is to tell your brain when you've had enough to eat.

Ghrelin's main function is to trigger hunger. Your ghrelin levels are naturally higher prior to a meal and naturally lower following a meal.

How are these two hormones affected by sleep deprivation? A lack of sleep produces more ghrelin, an appetite stimulator, and less leptin, an appetite depressant! Participants in a 2004, University of Chicago study, who only slept four hours a night for two nights, had a 28% increase in ghrelin and an 18% decrease in leptin.

This disturbing study indicates quite clearly that people who suffer from regular sleep deprivation have increased appetites. On top of that, the same lack of sleep disables their body's natural ability to say, "I'm full."

Sleep deprivation puts us at an increased risk for many health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. Most researchers agree that the dangers are triggered when people get as little as 6-7 hours of sleep a night! These alarming hormonal changes and the resulting effect on hunger just might be the greatest jeopardy to our overall health as a result of sleep deprivation.

Gail M. Davis provides more information about the alarming relationship between sleep deprivation and weight loss. Peruse her website, Easy Weight Loss Tips where you'll find many weight loss issues such as this in addition to healthy recipes.