In a study conducted by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the Obesity Research Center, suggests a link between the risk of being obese and the number of hours of sleep each night. The less we sleep, the more at risk we are. This fact could explain why people who suffer from sleep apnea, a known thief of sleep, tend to gain weight at an above normal rate. Also, a person who becomes a victim of sleep apnea, without strict eating habits is prone to greater weight gain.
The skinny on this matter - sleep apnea causes sleep deprivation, and, of course, the more sleep deprived a person becomes, the less active he or she is. We know how important sleep is in our lives. And yet, we still skimp, putting everything else in our lives first. Anything less than the seven to nine hours sleep is asking for trouble. It could lead to a loss of physical and mental health, to poor memory, poor coordination, and now, to weight gain and obesity.