"It's possible the calorie dip reflects less hunger among the students, or it could mean they are not having a late night snack or they drank less soda at night to keep them awake," she said. On-going studies will try to decipher that.

Although the studies were different in time and scope, Dr. Peszka said there was nothing in her study that contradicted the results of Dr. Engle-Friedman's study among urban college students. "These studies seem to mesh very well," Dr. Peszka said. "Sleepy people tend to consume more food."

Primary source: Sleep
Source reference: Mindy Engle-Friedman, "Abstract 0673: DO SLEEP PROBLEMS AFFECT WHAT WE EAT?"Sleep 2007, 30, supplement,p A228.

Jennifer Peszka, "Abstract 1102: DOES ONE WEEK OF SLEEP EXTENSION IMPACT EATING BEHAVIOR IN HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS? "Sleep 2007, 30, supplement,p A379.

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