Weight Gain/Loss and Sleep
Saturday, March 21, 2009
I am sure many of you have already heard about the link between too little sleep and weight gain. Many studies and experts have pointed to the fact that people that sleep less than 7-8 hours per night tend to weigh more & gain weight more than those that get 7 or more hours of sleep per night.
Well, I was reading an article off the Care2 site which takes a somewhat more balanced approach to these studies and I for one am glad to see that. They sited one expert that said: "There’s nothing special about that exact number, it’s just an average. “Everyone has different sleep needs, and you’ll know you’re getting enough when you don’t feel like nodding off in a boring situation in the afternoon." The article also stated this: "you’ll be amazed at the weight lost when you start getting the proper amount of rest. In fact, according to a Harvard Nurses’ Health Study, women who slept five hours or less a night were a third more likely to gain 33 pounds or more over 16 years than women who slept seven hours."
The one thing I do like is the article said to pay attention to your body & it's needs. We are all different. I do agree though that getting very minimal sleep, like 4 hours, for most people can effect weight gain/loss. I have been there & see a difference since I get more sleep now. Sometimes I think that the less sleep people may gain weight more because they might have a more demanding work schedule that makes it harder to eat right & consistently, they may be more stressed about things or just being awake more leads to eating more... especially if you are stressed! I have a strange sleep schedule & getting more sleep on the weekend has not hurt me. In fact, I think because it is a regular schedule for me to sleep about 6-7 hours during the week & maybe 10 on my sleep days, well, it works for me. Find what is right for you but try not to get too little sleep on a consistent basis. That can lead to weight gain.
The article discusses more issues like aging and sleep, insomnia and more. Read the full article here: 5 Sleep Myths and How to Beat Them
I am sure many of you have already heard about the link between too little sleep and weight gain. Many studies and experts have pointed to the fact that people that sleep less than 7-8 hours per night tend to weigh more & gain weight more than those that get 7 or more hours of sleep per night.Well, I was reading an article off the Care2 site which takes a somewhat more balanced approach to these studies and I for one am glad to see that. They sited one expert that said: "There’s nothing special about that exact number, it’s just an average. “Everyone has different sleep needs, and you’ll know you’re getting enough when you don’t feel like nodding off in a boring situation in the afternoon." The article also stated this: "you’ll be amazed at the weight lost when you start getting the proper amount of rest. In fact, according to a Harvard Nurses’ Health Study, women who slept five hours or less a night were a third more likely to gain 33 pounds or more over 16 years than women who slept seven hours."
The one thing I do like is the article said to pay attention to your body & it's needs. We are all different. I do agree though that getting very minimal sleep, like 4 hours, for most people can effect weight gain/loss. I have been there & see a difference since I get more sleep now. Sometimes I think that the less sleep people may gain weight more because they might have a more demanding work schedule that makes it harder to eat right & consistently, they may be more stressed about things or just being awake more leads to eating more... especially if you are stressed! I have a strange sleep schedule & getting more sleep on the weekend has not hurt me. In fact, I think because it is a regular schedule for me to sleep about 6-7 hours during the week & maybe 10 on my sleep days, well, it works for me. Find what is right for you but try not to get too little sleep on a consistent basis. That can lead to weight gain.
The article discusses more issues like aging and sleep, insomnia and more. Read the full article here: 5 Sleep Myths and How to Beat Them
I do believe my lack of sleep has caused weight gain. Not so much the sleeping part, but the being up and munching part!!
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love your site. you write about so many things that I can relate too. It is so true that when I sleep bad, I want to eat all day and crap. I always try to get at least 8 hours, but you now how life takes over.
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I wish I could get 8 hours of sleep but I am OCD to XBOX 360 games
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