How Sleep Deprivation Affects Weight Gain

Sleep deprivation can have effects on many areas of life, and weight gain is one of them. Poor sleep can lead to increases in appetite, an increase in overall calorie consumption, a decrease in metabolism, and other factors that can cause weight gain. When we don’t get enough sleep the bodies refuse to work at optimal levels, and just like any other machine, working at lower efficiencies can lead to failures.

Not getting enough sleep can lead to an increase in cortisol, which in turn can lead to a person overeating. Cortisol controls appetite, so when levels are up, so is the appetite. Also, when we don’t get enough sleep, we tend to crave sugary and starchy foods more than normal, which can lead to extra calories.

When sleep deprivation occurs, it reduces the amount of energy produced in the body. This in turn causes a decrease in metabolism which will make it more difficult to burn calories. As metabolism slows down, the body starts to store more fat, leading to weight gain.

Increased Appetite

Lack of adequate rest can cause a hormone called ghrelin to rise. Ghrelin is known as the hunger hormone and it signals an increase in the appetite, leading to cravings for sugary and fatty snacks. This can lead to a person consuming more calories than usual.

Also, when a person is sleep deprived the quality of food that is chosen can be affected. A person may choose unhealthy items because they are easier to acquire and quicker to consume while running on low sleep.

Impact on Metabolism

Metabolism is the chemical process that the body uses to synthesize and break down substances such as carbohydrates and fats into energy. According to the Mayo Clinic, metabolism is affected by a number of hormones, including the hormones affected by lack of sleep. When we don’t get enough sleep, our body finds it harder to metabolize and convert the food we eat into energy which will result in our body storing the excess as fat.

Also, when we’re sleep deprived, our bodies produce less of a hormone called leptin, which is responsible for regulating appetite. This means the body may think that it is hungry when it is not, leading to overeating.

When metabolism slows down, the rate at which food is converted into energy slows down too, leading to the body storing more energy in the form of fat instead of burning it off.

Unhealthy Snacks

Sleep deprivation can cause people to crave sugary and starchy snacks more than when they are well-rested. These snacks are often high in carbohydrates which will lead to blood sugar spikes and cravings for these sugary snacks later. This leads to more calories than the body needs, and the extra is stored as fat.

Signs of Sleep Deprivation

• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Decreased alertness
• Moodiness
• Weight gain

Conclusion

Lack of sleep can lead to weight gain in many ways. It can cause an increase in appetite, a decrease in metabolism, cravings for unhealthy snacks, and more. With proper sleep, these issues can be minimized, leading to a healthier life.