Both studies wuz reported this week at a meeting of da North American Association fo’ da Study of Obesity.”

The sleep study found that muthas who gots less than four hours of sleep a night wuz 73 percent mo’ likely be obese than those who gots da recommended seven nine hours of rest.” Those who averaged five hours of sleep had 50 percent greater risk, ‘n those who gots six hours had 23 percent mo’.”

“Maybe there’s a window of opportunity fo’ helping muthas sleep mo’, ‘n maybe that would help they weight,” be like Dr.” Steven Heymsfield of Columbia University ‘n St n’ shit. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York, who did da study wit Columbia epidemiologist James Gangwisch, know what I’m sayin’?

They used information on ’bout 18,000 adults participating in da federal government’s National Health ‘n Nutrition Examination Survey, or NHANES, throughout da 1980s n’ shit.

It may seem odd that sleeping mo’ would prevent obesity because muthas burn fewer calories when they’re resting, but they also eat when they’re awake.” The effect of chronic sleep deprivation on da body’s food-seeking circuitry is what specialists think may be making da difference in obesity risks n’ shit.

“There’s growing scientific evidence that there’s a link between sleep ‘n da various neural pathways that regulate food intake,” Heymsfield be like.”

Sleep deprivation lowers leptin, a blood protein that suppresses appetite, ‘n raises ghrelin, which does da opposite.”

It also hurts “executive function” — da ability make clear decisions, be like Dr n’ shit. Philip Eichling, a sleep ‘n weight-loss specialist at da University of Arizona who also is medical director of da Canyon Ranch, a spa in Tucson that caters business executives.”