[QUOTE=emmie;301185]I've noticed that, too - and have put some of this down to most folk's habit here of making do with 6-or-LESS-hours' sleep (OR that's what local teenagers tell me when I ask 'bout their off-school biz-ness )... Thus, the cravings for carbohydrates in the shape of frequent snacks, salty-fried or sugar-coated on the side, topped off with sugary lemon-tea or coke. Often, these multiple morsels replace freshly prepared or cooked meals.QUOTE]

The sleep factor is an interesting one, along with the hormonal issues, such as less sleep increasing stress hormone production which can lead to fat gain...the one that I find particulary interesting is that if you are awake when tired and should be sleeping your body instinctively believes that you must be awake because you are 'looking for food' (think cave men) and therefore goes into starvation mode and stores up energy for future use ie fat...