Sleep and appetite are tightly linked. Studies show that when people are sleep-deprived, levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin rise while the fullness hormone leptin falls — so you feel hungrier and less satisfied. Sleep-restricted people also tend to crave more calorie-dense, carb-heavy foods and eat more overall.
Over time, short sleep is associated with weight gain and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. That makes sleep a genuine nutrition tool: prioritizing 7 to 9 hours can make healthy eating easier, because you're not fighting a stacked hormonal deck the next day.