April 12, 2023
Did you know people who get less than 7 hours of sleep each night have a higher risk of weight gain and obesity than people who get seven to eight hours of sleep a night?
Your weight isn’t just determined by your nutrition and exercise levels. But also by how well your body functions. Stress levels, lifestyle habits and how much (or little) sleep you get play a role in your weight as well.
Sleep deprivation creates a hormone imbalance in the body that promotes overeating and weight gain. Leptin and Ghrelin are hormones that regulate appetite, and when you aren’t getting enough sleep, these hormones get altered in a way that creates increased feelings of hunger. Sleep deprivation is associated with growth hormone deficiency and elevated cortisol levels, both of which have been linked to weight gain and obesity.
It’s a catch 22. Sleep deprivation leads to weight gain and being overweight leads to sleep challenges.
Over the years, people have been getting less and less sleep. During this time, obesity rates have also gone up. See chats below.
Getting 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night is critical for optimal health and being able to maintain / lose weight.
If you struggle to sleep at night, here is a few suggestions:
- Supplement with Magnesium Bis-Glycinate
- Journal &/or Meditate
- Pray / Do Energy Work
- Stop eating 3 hours before you sleep
- Eliminate processed / inflammatory foods
- Exercise daily & get sunlight upon waking
- Avoid electronics 1 hour before bed
