While you may not realize it, your sleeping habits have significant effects on your ability to lose weight --- both from a physical and a psychological point of view. Sleep is not, in fact, an inactive process; rather, it provides another opportunity for your body to carry out essential life processes. The functions associated with this time have a direct role in metabolism and weight maintenance. Discuss any sleep and weight-loss issues with your doctor.
Digestion and Metabolism
Your body's nervous system includes the parasympathetic nervous system. It plays a role in the passive functions of the body, such as digestion and metabolism. These processes occur when you are at rest or asleep, and, indeed, the function of the parasympathetic system explains why you need to sleep and rest --- your body cannot sufficiently metabolize the foods you consume without the time to do so. A study by Tim Olds and colleagues of the University of South Australia, published in 2010 in the "Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health" found that short sleep duration can lead to obesity.
Stress Factor
Bad sleeping habits can cause weight gain by increasing your appetite. Likewise, if you eat just before sleeping, you may find it more difficult to fall and stay asleep. This can set off a cycle of stress, overeating and other bad habits, which can hinder your weight-loss efforts, the National Sleep Foundation explains. You may also find that sleep deprivation hurts your exercise program due to your reduced ability to concentrate and focus on your activities.
Role of Genetics
How your body responds to your sleep habits including weight loss may point to a genetic factor in your need for rest. A 2010 study conducted by Research published in 2010 in the journal "Neurology" by Namni Goel of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and colleagues found compelling evidence of a genetic marker which may determine how you respond to sleep loss. This may explain why weight loss may be more difficult for some individuals than others when the role of sleep is considered.
Getting a Good Night's Sleep
The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep each day. To get a good night's rest, establish a bedtime routine to prepare your body for sleep. Drink non-caffeinated tea or take a warm bath. Avoid strenuous activity or exercise before sleep. If you get enough rest, you are taking control of one aspect of weight loss.
References
- "Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health"; Day Type and the Relationship between Weight Status and s=Sleep Duration in Children and Adolescents; Timothy Olds et al.; April 2010
- "Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems"; Lauralee Sherwood; 2008
- National Sleep Foundation: How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?
- "Neurology"; DQB1*0602 Predicts Interindividual Differences in Physiologic Sleep, Sleepiness, and Fatigue; Namni Goel et al.; October 2010
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