Overweight There’s a Link to Sleep?

Many of us do not get enough sleep due to our busy lives. Lack of sleep could be a factor in that extra 10 to 15 pounds that we can’t seem to shed.
In studies, scientists have discovered people who sleep less have a tendency to weigh more. Over the last two decades, people have been sleeping less, with 30 percent of adult men and women between the ages of 30 and 64 sleeping less than six hours per night.
This decline in sleep time coincides with the increase in body weight seen in the U.S.
Are you sleeping less and fighting the battle at the scale?
The relationship is not entirely clear. Sleep may affect body weight in several different ways. Research suggests that important hormones that regulate appetite are associated with our sleep cycles.
However, sleeping under eight hours, the hormone levels are altered, leading to an increase in appetite. A chronic lack of sleep may also affect your overall energy levels, making you less likely to exercise.
There is also a question of whether excessive sleepiness affects your metabolic rate. Over time, the body could respond to the lack of sleep by decreasing your metabolic rate, making it easier to gain weight.
The relationship between body weight and sleep goes both ways.
It is well established that being overweight increases your risk of sleep apnea.
So, if you are not getting a good night’s sleep (think quantity AND quality), you can use many of the skills you are learning related to your diet and exercise program to get on the right track.
Just as you should be eating at regular intervals, you need to have a regular bedtime and wake time.
Eating at a regular interval happens best when you plan. The same is true for keeping a regular sleep schedule.
Prepare, develop a routine that puts you in the right frame of mind to get a good, restful sleep. Sleep more, eat less, and lose weight!
For a free consultation, call today—Etcetera Medical, 661-259-8884.