Daytime sleepiness is positively associated with cravings for a range of food types, and these associations were increased in persons with more diminished insulin sensitivity, independent of covariates.
Key Findings
Results
Craving ratings differed significantly across food types, with fruits rated highest, followed by dairy, starchy foods, meat, salty foods, and sweet foods.
Craving ratings were highest for fruits, followed by dairy and starchy foods, meat, and then salty and sweet foods
Differences across food categories were statistically significant (p < .001)
Cravings were assessed at multiple pre-meal timepoints over a 14-hour session
Four standardized mixed-meals and one pre-bedtime meal were provided during the session
Results
Insulin sensitivity moderated the positive association between daytime sleepiness and food cravings for all food types except salty foods.
Moderation was statistically significant for all food cravings except salty foods (p = .011 to .036)
The moderation effect was independent of covariates including age, sex, and caloric intake administration
Insulin sensitivity was measured using a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemia clamp to provide an insulin sensitivity index
Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine within- and between-person associations across meals
Results
The moderating effect of insulin sensitivity on the sleepiness-craving association was strongest at below-average and average insulin sensitivity levels.
The moderation effect displayed the strongest magnitude at below-average and average insulin sensitivity levels (p < .001)
Participants were non-diabetic, meaning these effects were observed early in the continuum of metabolic dysregulation
Both insulin sensitive and insulin resistant non-diabetic individuals were included in the study sample
Methods
The study examined daytime sleepiness and food cravings in a sample of 143 non-diabetic men and women under standardized meal conditions.
Sample size was N = 143 non-diabetic men and women
Participants completed one session for the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemia clamp and a subsequent 14-hour session for meal and craving assessments
Concurrent pre-meal measures of sleepiness and cravings for sweet, salty, starchy, fruit, meat, and dairy foods were obtained
Hierarchical linear modeling analyses examined within- and between-person associations of sleepiness with food cravings across meals
Results
Daytime sleepiness was positively associated with cravings for a range of food types beyond previously studied macronutrient-specific categories.
The study extended previous findings to show sleepiness is associated with cravings for a broad range of food types
Food craving categories assessed included sweet, salty, starchy, fruit, meat, and dairy foods
Prior literature had focused on specific macronutrients; this study broadened the scope of food types examined
The association held after controlling for age, sex, and caloric intake administration
What This Means
This research suggests that when people feel sleepier during the day, they tend to crave more food across a variety of food categories — not just sweets or carbohydrates as previously thought, but also fruits, dairy, meat, and starchy foods. The study tracked 143 non-diabetic adults through a carefully controlled 14-hour day of standardized meals and measured their sleepiness and food cravings before each meal. Participants also underwent a medical test to measure how well their bodies respond to insulin, which is a key indicator of metabolic health.
A particularly novel finding was that the connection between sleepiness and food cravings was stronger in people who were less sensitive to insulin — meaning their bodies had to work harder to manage blood sugar. This effect was most pronounced in people with below-average or average insulin sensitivity, and it was seen for all food types except salty foods. Importantly, all participants were non-diabetic, suggesting these dynamics may be at play well before diabetes develops.
This research suggests that daytime sleepiness and reduced insulin sensitivity may work together to drive increased food cravings, potentially contributing to overeating and worsening metabolic health over time. The findings point to the importance of sleep quality and metabolic function as interconnected factors in understanding how food cravings develop, and they call for further investigation into the biological mechanisms that link sleepiness, food desire, and the early stages of conditions like type 2 diabetes.
Romaker E, Krueger M, Goldfinger M, Gonzalez A, Forster D, Wohlgemuth W, et al.. (2026). Daytime sleepiness and specific food cravings: The moderating role of insulin sensitivity.. PloS one. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0343407