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Updated: May 9, 2026
05:05
Establishing a Device for Sleep Deprivation in Mice
Published on: September 22, 2023
Acute sleep deprivation increases food purchasing in men
Colin D Chapman1, Emil K Nilsson, Victor C Nilsson
1Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|August 3, 2013
Summary
Acute sleep deprivation significantly increases calorie and food gram purchases in men. This study shows sleep loss alters food buying habits, independent of food type or price.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Nutritional Science
- Sleep Research
Background:
- Sleep deprivation is a growing public health concern.
- Understanding its impact on daily behaviors, like food choices, is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of acute total sleep deprivation (TSD) on food purchasing decisions.
- To determine if sleep loss influences the quantity and caloric content of food bought.
Main Methods:
- 14 healthy men underwent one night of total sleep deprivation (TSD) or normal sleep.
- Participants used a fixed budget to purchase items from a mock supermarket, with varying prices for high-caloric foods.
- Plasma ghrelin levels were measured to assess hormonal influence.
Main Results:
- Sleep-deprived men purchased 9% more calories and 18% more grams of food compared to rested individuals.
- Higher morning ghrelin levels were observed after TSD, but did not correlate with purchasing behavior changes.
Conclusions:
- Acute sleep loss significantly alters food purchasing behavior in men.
- Sleep deprivation leads to increased consumption of calories and food mass, irrespective of price or food type.
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