Weight Loss Tips: Get Your Rest?
Studies Show Weight Gain Linked to Sleep Deprivation
If we look back in time through the last fifty years, we would see that the American population has gotten heavier. Right? The 60’s showed that 1 out of 4 Americans were overweight while 1 out of 9 were obese. Presently 2 out of 3 adults are overweight while 1 out of 3 is considered obese. Shocking right! Well, what would you say if I told you researchers found a link between chronic sleep deprivation and weight gain. You better believe it.
Not only has the American public gotten heavier in the last fifty years but we have also cut sleep time by nearly 2 hours. Two studies show that chronic sleep deprivation is linked to weight gain. These studies show that there is a connection to the amount of sleep and levels of hormones that regulate one’s appetite. Thus indicating that those who are sleep deprived are also getting fat.
Sleep habits of over 1,000 volunteers were followed for 17 years. Researchers found that these individuals only slept on average, 5 hours a night. We are recommended to achieve 8 hours of sleep a night. These individuals had a higher BMI than those who slept 8 hours a night. Researchers also found high levels of the hormone, ghrelin.
Ghrelin, a hormone produced by the stomach, signals the brain during hunger. The sleep deprived also had lower levels of the hormone leptin. Leptin, a hormone produced by fat cells, is responsible for signaling satiation or fullness to the brain.
These studies prove that sleep is as important for weight loss as diet and exercise. So make sure that you are getting enough sleep each night.
By Kristy Haugen
- Sleep The Fat Off has some interesting weight loss tips for everyone and is the source of information for today’s weight loss tip.
