Doctor Warns That Sleep Deprivation Can Increase Risk of Obesity

Jakarta — A specialist neurologist from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Indonesia’s Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Astri Budikayanti, has warned that sleep deprivation not only causes fatigue but can also trigger increased appetite, potentially raising the risk of obesity.

During an online health discussion held in Jakarta on Monday, Astri explained that insufficient sleep can affect hormones that regulate hunger, causing people to feel hungry more frequently.

“When we don’t sleep enough, our body requires more energy. As a result, hormones that trigger hunger increase, so we end up wanting to eat constantly,” she said.

She stated that this condition can become a factor contributing to weight gain if it persists over a long period.

According to Astri, adults generally need a minimum of six hours of sleep each night, whilst the ideal duration ranges from seven to eight hours.

She also explained that sleep quality is heavily influenced by the sleep phases that occur throughout the night.

During the first half of the night, the body typically enters deep sleep phases that function to restore the brain after daily activities.

Meanwhile, during the second half of the night, the body spends more time in the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, which plays a role in memory recovery and cognitive function.

“If these sleep phases are disrupted, a person can wake up feeling unrefreshed or even as though they haven’t slept at all,” she said.

She added that poor sleep quality can also impact thinking ability and memory.

For this reason, Astri urged the public to maintain consistent sleep patterns and avoid habits that can disrupt sleep quality, such as staying up late or excessive use of electronic devices before bedtime.