Study: Sleep-deprived individuals crave junk foods

  

June 11, 2012 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Have you ever noticed when you are sleep-deprived that you crave all the wrong foods?

A new study finds unhealthy foods such as sweets and chips are in fact more appealing to people who haven't had enough sleep.

Scientists found that unhealthy foods activated areas of the brain considered reward centers only in people whose sleep was restricted.

When the same people were allowed to rest a full night they had no such activation in the brain's reward center.

Scientists presenting this study in the Association of Professional Sleep Societies meeting say when you are fatigued your body would want calorie-dense foods that give you quick energy.

Get more Healthbeat »

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•