HEALTH REPORT - Lack of Sleep Linked to Weight Gain

HEALTH REPORT - Lack of Sleep Linked to Weight Gain
By Cynthia Kirk

Broadcast: Wednesday, December 15, 2004

I'm Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Health Report.

There are new findings that not enough sleep may cause people to gain weight. Researchers say a lack of sleep can produce hormonal¹ changes that increase feelings of hunger.

In one study, researchers in the United States examined information on more than one thousand people. The people had taken part in a long-term study of sleep disorders².

Some people slept less than five hours a night. They had fifteen percent higher blood levels of a hormone³ called ghrelin than people who slept eight hours. And they had fifteen percent less of the hormone leptin. Experts say ghrelin helps make people feel hungry; leptin makes you feel full.

The scientists say these hormonal changes may be a cause of obesity⁴ in Western societies. They note the combination that sleep restriction⁵ is common and food is widely available.

The results were not affected⁶ by how much people exercised. People who are awake longer have more time to burn energy. But the researchers say loss of sleep may increase hunger especially for high-calorie foods, so people gain weight.

Researchers from Stanford University in California and the University of Wisconsin did the study. They found that the best amount of sleep for weight control is seven-point-seven hours a night.

The Public Library of Science published the findings in its journal Medicine. Internet users can read the full study, free of charge, at plos.org.

Researchers at the University of Chicago did a smaller study, reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine. They found that people who slept just four hours a night for two nights had an eighteen percent reduction in leptin. And they had a twenty-eight percent increase in ghrelin. The young men in that study also appeared to want more sweet and starchy foods.

Researchers from Columbia University in New York did a third study. They reported the findings at a meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity.

They found that people who got less than four hours of sleep a night were seventy-three percent more likely to be overweight. This was compared to people with seven to nine hours of sleep. The researchers say that for survival, the body may be designed to store more fat during times with less sleep.

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk. I'm Gwen Outen.

1 hormonal   

adj.激素的

参考例句：

• Some viral diseases are more severe during pregnancy, probably tecause of hormonal changes. 有些病毒病在妊娠期间比较严重，可能是由于激素变化引起的。
• She underwent surgical intervention and a subsequent short period of hormonal therapy. 他接受外科手术及随后短暂荷尔蒙治疗。

2 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

4 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

5 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。