Lack Of Sleep Will Make You Fat And Possibly Kill You

New Studies show the health benefits of getting more sleep.

A new study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests that people who are restricted from sleep report a decrease in appetite, cravings and consumption of food. The amazing discovery is that despite less food consumption they still gained weight. Paradoxically this suggests that less energy is expended as a result of sleep deprivation.

Some factors in these results may include being sedentary and not doing any exercise (i.e. waiting to go to sleep) and snacking on comfort foods over a longer period of time due to little time spent sleeping.

The lead researcher Siobhan Banks a PhD at the University of South Australia suggests that shift workers or other groups lacking sleep should keep plenty of healthy low fat / low sugar snacks around to reduce the temptation to eat high sugar/ high fat comfort foods. Banks also suggests that despite feeling tired regular exercise will also help balance the energy intake.

Another study has shown that men with insomnia who sleep fewer than 6 hours nightly have an increased risk of mortality. Mortality rates for men were 19.6 % compared to 10.3% for women. Older studies back up this study by showing that lack of sleep is associated with increased risk of diabetes and other medical risks.

In our modern Internet age we really do try to fit too much into the day. Studies have shown that up to 40 % of Americans sleep less than 7 hours per night. Television is the most dominate pre-sleep activity, accounting for almost 50% of pre-bed time activities.

Can You Have Too Much Sleep

Athletes who slept longer than normal and reduced their accumulated sleep debt reported improvements in their athletic performance – so sleep is an important factor in performance during competitions.

Some Tips

make sure you manage your time and be prepared to leave things uncompleted if it means you will not get at least 7 hours sleep
don’t watch Television. If you need to relax after work, perhaps play some sport outside with the children (such as badminton). Go for a walk around the park to de-stress.
ensure you have only healthy snacks around the house such as nuts and dried fruits.

SOURCES

Sleep restriction results in weight gain despite decreases in appetite and consumption

Insomnia with objective short sleep duration in men is associated with increased mortality

Television watching before bedtime can lead to sleep debt

Study shows sleep extension improves athletic performance and mood

About Danny Sheehan

Danny lives in Hong Kong but is originally from Australia. He is Married to Maggie and together they have two children with whom they enjoy sharing and enjoying an exciting life with daily. Danny's passions are freedom, adventure and discovery, mainly in nature and science but also spiritually. He is a great believer in living in the NOW.
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