Insomnia and obesity: a complex neuroendocrine relation insomnia and obesity

Insomnia is a sleep disorder of great magnitude that significantly interferes with the homeostasis of the circadian and sleep systems. This culminates in important changes in the leptin-ghrelin axis, leading to adverse effects on the dietary choices, a consequent increase in weight and installation of obesity. The hormonal and metabolic mechanisms that promote this important change are not yet fully understood. However, it is known that a chronic process of sleep deregulation culminates in increased levels of ghrelin and decreased levels of leptin, resulting in a vicious cycle. Therefore, it is necessary to raise the population's awareness for the importance of sleep periods in order to avoid metabolic imbalances involving the development of diseases, especially obesity.