Teens, who feel sleepy during the daytime, are more likely to crave for carbohydrates. Researchers led by Dr. Mahmood Siddique, director of Sleep and Wellness Medical Associates and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey, have arrived at this conclusion after studying high school seniors.
The findings indicated that a linear relationship existed between self-reported carb cravings and daytime drowsiness. Moreover, the chances of experiencing a stronger craving for carbs were found to be 50 percent more in those students who reported severe daytime sleepiness.
Further, the rate of depression was also found to be higher in students who strongly craved for carbs in comparison to the ones who had little or no craving for the same. Again, the cravings were found to have increased by at least three times in those students who suffered from severe depression.
Dr. Siddique explained that the purpose of the study was to draw a relationship between sleep deprivation and carb cravings in high school students. He reported that carb cravings went on increasing with increases in sleep deprivation.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, teens actually need a little more than nine hours of sleep per night in order to stay alert the next morning. But this is not the actual picture. Teens are struggling every night to get a goodnight's sleep and they are the ones who are suffering from sleepiness during the daytime.
Dr. Siddique explained that sleep has an important function to perform in the regulation of metabolism and appetite. Inadequate sleep can affect the metabolism adversely and may have an impact on dietary selection and weight.
"This study is important given the rising epidemic of obesity among teens as well as increasing metabolic syndrome and diabetes among young adult populations," Dr. Siddique said. He said that the study was intended to draw some attention to the fact that sleep deprivation in young adults may stand as a risk factor for obesity.
