Want to maintain healthy weight?
Counting your sleeping hours in a day is as important as keeping a check on your calories. Not getting enough sleep can have adverse effects on your health as well as the waistline.
Several research studies have concluded that poor sleeping habits are one of the most important causes of weight gain. However, staying awake all night and worrying about weight gain is not going to help you shed the extra pounds. Avoiding sleep deprivation is a critical component of weight loss.
If you are constantly working in irregular shifts or sleeping late at night by watching tv or smartphones, it can lead to the risk of slowing down your metabolism. Individuals who get enough sleep have lower Body Mass Indexes (BMI) in comparison to those who stay late at night.
In addition to metabolic rate, sleep deprivation also affects your appetite and the way you expend your energy. All of these factors play a major role in weight regulation. Our health experts at Inodaya Hospitals help you understand how lack of sleep and obesity are correlated.
How do your sleeping habits cause weight gain?
Certain genes are associated with weight gain that makes some people more susceptible to obesity. New research finds that abnormal sleep patterns can exacerbate the problem to these individuals.
Let’s see why your poor sleeping habits contribute to the excess weight.
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Hormonal imbalances
Sleep deprivation causes hormonal imbalances in the body which promotes weight gain. Your appetite is controlled by hormones Leptin and Ghrelin. Leptin, which is produced by the fat cells of your body, restricts you from consuming food on attaining satiety. Ghrelin is produced by the stomach and sends signals to your body to continue eating.
If you sleep fewer hours each day, your body will suffer a 15% fall in the production of Leptin and a 15% rise in the production of Ghrelin. As a result, you will be working against your weight loss goals by ending up overeating.
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Lesser calorie burn
One of the side effects of less sleep is that you will burn lesser calories in a day when compared to getting enough sleep. Studies reveal that your body burns about 60-65% of the total calories you consume during the day while sleeping. The remaining get burnt when performing other physical activities. Therefore, if you sleep less, your body burns fewer calories which leads to gain excess weight in the body.
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Creates Stress
Lack of sleep makes a way for stress. Your brain lacks enough rest if you sleep less. As a result, it will remain worked up all the time. Your body releases stress hormones to overcome stressful situations that are responsible for slowing down the metabolic rate in your body, which further adds to your weight.
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Increases carving for high-sugar foods
One of the most harmful effects of sleeping less is that it increases your cravings for low-nutrient and high calorie foods. Also, if you do not get enough sleep on a regular basis, you will most likely respond food stimuli very quickly that increase your calorie intake and eventually your weight.
Sleep deprivation not only leads to weight gain, but it also increases the risk of serious health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes etc. Therefore, make sure you include 7-8 hours of sleep every day in your weight loss program.
Consult our experts at Inodaya Hospitals, Kakinada and get better advice to reduce your risk of obesity.
