Figure 1 The potential mechanisms through which short sleep duration could result in obesity. Short sleep duration can affect both energy intake and energy expenditure. It results in tiredness that may hamper physical activity, and alters metabolic hormones to increase appetite and affect food selection. Additionally, extra time awake provides increased opportunity for food intake. Other potential mechanisms include effects of sleep on basal metabolic rate, thermic effect of food and non‐exercise activity thermogenesis.