Could Insomnia Be Making Me Gain Weight? September 2, 2026 Could Insomnia Be Making Me Gain Weight? If you’re eating well and staying active but still finding it difficult to manage your weight, your sleep may be worth a closer look. Sleep is much more than downtime. It is an essential restorative process that supports the brain and the health of the entire body. Research has consistently linked insufficient sleep with a greater risk of weight gain and obesity.1 For most adults, around seven to nine hours of sleep each night is considered appropriate for good health. Regularly falling short can affect appetite, food choices, activity levels and the way your body uses energy. Why poor sleep can make you hungrier Ever noticed that you feel unusually hungry after a terrible night’s sleep? There may be a biological reason. Sleep influences hormones involved in appetite regulation, including ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin helps stimulate hunger, while leptin contributes to feelings of fullness. Insufficient sleep may increase ghrelin and reduce leptin, potentially leaving you feeling hungrier and less satisfied after eating.2 Poor sleep can also make tempting foods harder to resist. When you’re tired, changes in brain activity may affect decision-making and self-control, while increasing your response to high-calorie foods.1 Add in a few extra waking hours for late-night snacking, and your overall energy intake can climb without you necessarily realising it. Tiredness can change how much you move Food is only part of the picture. A sleepless night can leave you feeling exhausted the following day, making a workout far less appealing.3 Chronic sleep loss may reduce both planned exercise and everyday movement.3 You might sit more, move less or tire more quickly during physical activity. Over time, this can reduce the amount of energy you burn and contribute to weight gain. Weight and sleep can become a cycle The relationship can work both ways. Weight gain may contribute to sleep problems, while disrupted sleep can make weight management more difficult.1 Give your sleep the attention it deserves Healthy sleep deserves a place alongside nutritious eating and regular exercise when it comes to looking after your weight. Try maintaining consistent sleep and wake times, keeping your bedroom cool, dark and quiet, staying physically active, and avoiding caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and heavy meals close to bedtime. Reducing screen time before bed can also help create a more restful routine. If insomnia is persistent, you regularly struggle to get enough sleep, or you experience symptoms such as loud snoring, disrupted breathing or significant daytime tiredness, speak with your doctor. Identifying and treating an underlying sleep problem could improve not only your nights, but your overall health and wellbeing. How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 100 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and Treatment Consultants, ensuring you receive personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all eligible Australians, with minimal wait time. If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for sleep apnea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au. When considering whether a sleep study is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply. References 1. Papatriantafyllou, Evangelia, et al. “Sleep Deprivation: Effects on Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance.” Nutrients, vol. 14, no. 8, Apr. 2022, p. 1549, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14081549. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026. 2. Singapore General Hospital. “Sleep Deprivation and Weight Gain: Is There a Link?” Healthxchange.Sg, HealthXchange, 15 Aug. 2016, https://www.healthxchange.sg/how-to-manage/sleep-deprivation/sleep-deprivation-weight-gain-link. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026. 3. Attardo, Donna. “Sleep, Obesity and How They Are Related | Brown University Health.” Brown University Health, 18 Jan. 2022, https://www.brownhealth.org/be-well/sleep-obesity-and-how-they-are-related. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.
