You’ve probably noticed that sleep changes during midlife. Maybe you wake at 3 a.m., can’t fall back asleep, or feel wired at bedtime even when you’re exhausted. It’s not just in your head—fluctuating hormones influence your sleep cycles and stress response. When you don’t get enough quality rest, your body produces more cortisol, the stress hormone that can increase cravings and make belly fat more stubborn. Sleep loss also throws off hunger hormones—raising ghrelin (which m