Insufficient sleep may be associated with obesity via increased energy intake and/or decreased energy expenditure. The present study therefore aimed to investigate effects of sleep restriction on energy balance in healthy young adults. Participants (14 men, 13 women) aged 35.3 ± 1.0 y with 23.6 ± 0.2 kg/m2 BMI completed a randomized, crossover study exposed to short and habitual sleep with 4 wk washout. Controlled diets were provided during the first 4 d, followed by 2 d of ad libitum eating. Ad libitum energy intake, energy expenditure and physical activity level were determined as well as energy balance and body weight. Results showed that ad libitum energy intake (p = 0.031), as well as total fat (p = 0.018) increased after short compared with habitual sleep, but physical activity level, energy expenditure, energy balance, and body weight remained unaffected by sleep duration. In conclusion, sleep deprivation elevates energy intake, which may lead to positive energy balance over time and increase the risk of weight gain and/or obesity.

Objectives Different studies have reported the association between perceived stress and unhealthy diet choices. We aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between perceived stress and fat intake among undergraduate medical students. Methods/Principal findings A cross-sectional study was performed including first-year medical students. The outcome of interest was the self-report of fat intake assessed using the Block Screening Questionnaire for Fat Intake (high vs. low intake), whereas the exposure was perceived stress (low/ normal vs. high levels). The prevalence of high fat intake was estimated and the association of interest was determined using prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Models were created utilizing Poisson regression with robust standard errors. Data from 523 students were analyzed, 52.0% female, mean age 19.0 (SD 1.7) years. The prevalence of high fat intake was 42.4% (CI: 38.2%–46.7%). In multivariate model and compared with those with lowest levels of stress, those in the middle (PR = 1.59; 95%CI: 1.20–2.12) and highest (PR = 1.92; 95%CI: 1.46–2.53) categories of perceived stress had greater prevalence of fat intake. Gender was an effect modifier of this association (p = 0.008). Conclusions Greater levels of perceived stress were associated with higher fat intake, and this association was stronger among males. More than 40% of students reported having high fat consumption. Our results suggest the need to implement strategies that promote decreased fat intake.

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