This study investigates the relationship between short sleep duration and metabolic hormones, particularly leptin and ghrelin, in a large population-based sample. The researchers analyzed data from 1,024 participants in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study, who underwent polysomnography and provided blood samples for hormone analysis. The results show a U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and body mass index (BMI), with shorter sleep durations associated with higher BMI. Short sleepers had lower levels of leptin and higher levels of ghrelin, which are key hormones regulating appetite. These hormonal changes may contribute to increased appetite and weight gain in individuals with short sleep durations. The findings suggest that changes in appetite-regulating hormones due to sleep restriction could play a role in the increasing prevalence of obesity in Western societies, where chronic sleep restriction is common and high-calorie foods are widely available.This study investigates the relationship between short sleep duration and metabolic hormones, particularly leptin and ghrelin, in a large population-based sample. The researchers analyzed data from 1,024 participants in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study, who underwent polysomnography and provided blood samples for hormone analysis. The results show a U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and body mass index (BMI), with shorter sleep durations associated with higher BMI. Short sleepers had lower levels of leptin and higher levels of ghrelin, which are key hormones regulating appetite. These hormonal changes may contribute to increased appetite and weight gain in individuals with short sleep durations. The findings suggest that changes in appetite-regulating hormones due to sleep restriction could play a role in the increasing prevalence of obesity in Western societies, where chronic sleep restriction is common and high-calorie foods are widely available.