Overview of the Relationship Between Sleep and Weight Loss
Sleep is one of the most important health components to focus on in order to stay healthy, not just physically but mentally. When it comes to losing weight, sleep can be just as important as diet and exercise. Studies show that there is a correlation between sleep and weight loss, and how a person’s quality of sleep can affect their ability to reach their desired weight-loss goals.
A lack of sleep can lower resting metabolic rate, lead to an increase of hunger, reduce the motivation to exercise and interfere with blood sugar levels. As such, getting a restful nights sleep can provide multiple benefits for weight loss.
By achieving and maintaining a good quality of sleep, a person can be able to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight more easily. Achieving a proper sleep routine can help people to regulate their sleeping schedule and take the right actions to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
How Sleep Impacts Energy Expenditure
Sleep duration has an effect on energy expenditure, which plays a large part in weight loss. Research has found that less sleep causes a decreased level of energy expenditure, due to reduced metabolism, impacting the levels of energy the body burns to perform daily activities.
Having too little sleep can lead to fatigue and lacking motivation, resulting in an individual not feeling as though they have the energy or will-power to get up and exercise. Therefore, getting enough sleep is particularly important as it helps prevent these symptoms from occurring, helping to keep up motivation and improve overall performance.
Sleep and Hormonal Responses
Research shows that poor quality sleep can influence hormonal production. Not having enough rest can cause a person’s leptin (the hormone that helps to regulate food consumption and weight) to be suppressed, leading to increased hunger. Leptin helps to tell the body when it has eaten enough food. Thus, when levels are low, a person is much more likely to overeat and contribute to their weight gain.
At the same time, lack of sleep can cause the level of the hormone ghrelin to be higher. Ghrelin helps to increase appetite; especially cravings for food high in processed carbohydrates and fats, which in turn will increase weight.
Having regular and sufficient sleep can help reduce hormonal changes brought on by sleep deprivation and helps in controlling food intake, making them better able to reach their weight loss goals.
Benefits of Sleep for Weight Loss
- A proper sleep routine can help to regulate hunger and reduce feelings of hunger and cravings.
- Getting enough rest can improve energy levels and motivation to exercise, further helping to increase energy expenditure.
- Managing your sleeping schedule can help reduce levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.
- By reducing stress levels, a person can be better able to manage their stress-induced eating habits.
- Studies have found that longer sleeping duration leads to improved satiety and metabolizing of glucose.
Conclusion
For those looking to reach their weight-loss goals, getting enough quality sleep each night should be an essential part of a person’s routine. Getting enough rest can help reduce stress, suppress hunger, and increase motivation – all of which are needed to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.