Final answer:
Sleep deficiency can cause numerous health issues, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. These risks are due to hormonal changes, increased inflammation, and insulin resistance associated with poor sleep.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns the potential health risks associated with sleep deficiency. Among the potential risks, sleep deficiency can lead to various negative health consequences such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. These conditions are interconnected; for example, sleep deprivation can increase the risk of obesity by altering the body's hormone levels, which in turn affects appetite and metabolism. Obesity is a significant risk factor for heart disease and is closely linked to type 2 diabetes, primarily due to how excess body fat affects the body's response to insulin.
Insufficient sleep can also contribute to a greater tendency for inflammation and increased blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for heart disease. In terms of diabetes, the disrupted metabolism caused by poor sleep can lead to insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question 'Which of these health risks may be caused by sleep deficiency?' is 4) All of the above, as sleep deficiency can contribute to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.