There is a link between sleep and weight, and it’s not the one that you might imagine. Many people envisage a stereotypical image of lazy people who sleep a lot being overweight, but in fact quite the reverse is true. Sleep is not only vital for your wellbeing, it also helps you to maintain a healthy weight. Research carried out at the Mayo Clinic has shown a strong link between those who are not getting enough sleep and a propensity to gain weight.
People who are sleep deprived tend to eat more, according to the study, which was carried out in the United States. Sleep deprivation is thought to affect the wellness of around 28 percent of adults, and could be a contributor to the growing obesity crisis.
During the study, a group of 17 otherwise healthy participants, both male and female, spend eight nights being observed. The group was divided up and half of the participants were allowed their normal amount of sleeping time, while the other half were restricted to just two thirds of their normal sleeping time. During the study, all participants were allowed to eat as much as they wanted to.
Researchers found that those who were sleep deprived consumed a staggering 549 additional calories, when compared to the group who were allowed sufficient sleep. In addition to this, the calorie burn rate was the same for both groups, so being awake for more of the time did not make the sleep deprived group burn any more calories.
The hormone leptin was also present in higher levels in the group who had had too little sleep. This is sometimes called the obesity hormones as it is produced by fat cells in the body and makes its way to the brain via the bloodstream. Another obesity-related hormone, ghrelin, was found in the blood of those with decreased sleep.
Whilst the sleep-deprived group claimed to experience a lack of appetite, and did seem to eat less, they still gained more than the group who were having enough sleep, indicating that their metabolism may have slowed down.
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