Research paper
Spiegel K, Tasali E, Penev P, Van Cauter E. Brief communication: Sleep curtailment in healthy young men is associated with decreased leptin levels, elevated ghrelin levels, and increased hunger and appetite. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2004;141(11):846-850. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-141-11-200412070-00008
Why we cite it
Landmark brief communication from the laboratory that founded the sleep-metabolism field. First controlled crossover study to demonstrate that just two days of sleep restriction simultaneously decreases leptin, increases ghrelin, and drives appetite specifically toward calorie-dense high-carbohydrate foods — providing the hormonal mechanism explaining why poor sleep promotes overeating. Published in a top-tier general medical journal, this paper has become one of the most cited studies linking sleep to obesity risk.
DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-141-11-200412070-00008 · PubMed 15583226 · Publisher