Believe it or not, getting a few extra minutes of sleep each night could help you lose some weight. According to studies published in The Journal of the American Medical Association and The Lancet, sleep loss might increase hunger and affect the body’s metabolism, which can make it harder to maintain or lose weight.
Sleep loss can do 2 things to your body, the first of which is to make you feel hungry even if you’re full. Not getting enough sleep has been shown to affect cortisol levels, a hormone that regulates appetite. If your cortisol levels are not well-regulated, you can continue to feel hungry despite your food intake.
Another thing sleep loss can do is increase your fat storage. Some studies show sleep loss might interfere with the body’s ability to metabolize carbs, which could lead to high levels of blood sugar. Higher blood-sugar levels can promote an overproduction of insulin, which can cause the body to store more fat and lead to insulin resistance (which can cause diabetes).
There are other issues related to being overweight and obese that can contribute to interrupted sleep. For example, overweight people are more likely to experience sleep apnea, a disorder that causes breathing to start and stop during sleep, causing people to awaken several times throughout the night. Those who are overweight could also have lower back pain, which could prevent them from lying comfortably in bed.
An Australian study of more than 300 obese individuals also showed losing weight can improve your sleep. After weight loss surgery, only 2% reported poor sleep quality, down from 39%. Likewise, while 82% said they had habitual snoring, after the weight loss, snoring went down to 14%.
The quality of sleep is also important. If people don’t get enough “deep sleep” (slow-wave sleep), they can get reduced levels of a growth hormone that helps regulate the body’s proportions of fat and muscle during adulthood.
For more information about weight loss, or to begin one of our weight loss programs, give us a call. Soza Weight Loss is a clinic that uses natural and medically sound methods to help people lose weight. We focus primarily on the elimination of abnormal body fat through healthy means, so you don’t lose lean muscle mass in the process. We also offer a variety of programs that can be tailored to your unique situation.
Contact us at (504) 475-9817 or fill out our online form to schedule your free consultation today.