# Fatigue may drive weight gain more than lack of exercise 2026-08-16T18:37:15+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Times Now News reports that fatigue and poor sleep could be a bigger factor in weight gain than simply not exercising enough. Constant exhaustion affects appetite-regulating hormones, increases cravings for calorie-dense foods, and reduces daily physical activity. An NIH-funded trial found that adults who slept more consumed fewer calories. The outlet explains that sleep deficiency raises ghrelin, the hunger hormone, and lowers leptin, which signals fullness. Fatigue also makes exercise feel harder, leading to less movement and lower energy expenditure over time. Stress often worsens the cycle, promoting emotional eating and further disrupting sleep. However, persistent fatigue may signal underlying health issues such as anaemia, thyroid problems, diabetes, or sleep apnea. Times Now News advises consulting a doctor if fatigue lasts weeks or is paired with unexplained weight gain, rather than simply pushing through with more exercise. ## Coverage - timesnownews.com This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: exercise, fatigue, hormones, sleep, weight gain Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/fatigue-may-drive-weight-gain-more-than-lack-of-exercise/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/fatigue-may-drive-weight-gain-more-than-lack-of-exercise/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/