Too Little Sleep Impedes Weight Loss

Anybody on a serious weight loss program should NOT overlook the importance of getting a good night's sleep.

Dieters with a sleep disorder who try to ignore their long term patterns of chronic sleep loss will have a harder time losing weight. It is theorized that sleep is important for regulating hormones that help control how much a person desires to eat.

While it may seem counter intuitive, being awake does not cause your body through higher metabolism to burn more calories. This research study showed that the typical person will burn 2,600 calories whether they get eight or 4 hours of sleep a day.

Lack of Sleep Leads to Weight Gain

Shift workers and those with a sleep disorder will have a harder time controlling their food cravings. As a result, this recent research study has shown that sleep-deprived individuals are more likely to consume both more calories and fattier foods.

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References:

• Short sleep duration increases energy intakes but does not change energy expenditure in normal-weight individuals.
  St-Onge MP, Roberts AL, Chen J, ...
  Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Aug;94(2):410-6. Epub 2011 Jun 29.
  PMID: 21715510