Lack of Sleep: Sleep is the only thing that gives our body the necessary rest. However, in recent times, many people are not giving enough importance to sleep due to various types of work. Not sleeping properly can have a serious impact on health. Research shows that it especially causes weight gain.
Everyone knows that the food we eat affects our weight. But you may be wondering how sleep affects weight. But, it is literally true. The impact of sleep on our health and its relationship with weight gain have been scientifically proven.
When we don’t get enough sleep, the balance of some important hormones in our body is disrupted, especially the levels of hormones called Leptin and Ghrelin, which control hunger and satiety. The hormone Leptin signals the brain that we are satisfied after eating. Similarly, Ghrelin signals hunger. If we don’t get enough sleep, leptin levels decrease, and ghrelin levels increase. In this state, we feel the urge to eat even when we don’t need it. As a result, we eat more.. which ultimately causes us to gain weight.
Not only this, when sleep is reduced, the levels of the stress hormone cortisol increase in the body. When cortisol is high, it also causes weight gain. This also causes fat to accumulate in the body. Also, lack of sleep slows down the metabolism. Due to this, the food eaten is not digested quickly, but is stored as fat in the body, increasing weight.
Furthermore, lack of sleep reduces the energy levels in the body. As a result, the person feels more tired. Due to this, the physical activity that the person does during the day decreases. For example, the interest in exercising disappears. The daily tasks also become slower. The calorie expenditure in the body decreases. Due to this, the body does not burn calories. Even if calories are not burned, we gain weight.
Moreover, people who sleep less tend to be more hungry. That also draws the mind towards junk food. The attraction towards processed foods that are high in calories like pizza, burgers, and chocolate increases. Eating these also increases the risk of gaining excess weight. Therefore, not only fatigue can occur if you do not get enough sleep, but there is also a possibility of weight gain. This has been confirmed by the National Institute of Health.
Health experts say that to keep our body weight under control and to be healthy, we need at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day. This maintains the balance of hormones in the body, keeps the metabolism natural. It helps control appetite. Especially by sleeping between 10 pm and 5–6 am, the process of hormone release occurs properly. This acts as a natural recharging system for the body.
In short, to lose or control weight, it is not just about diet and exercise, but also sleep that should be given due importance. A healthy lifestyle starts with adequate sleep. So, if you go to bed at a fixed time every day and ensure that you get at least 7–8 hours of sleep, you can not only control your body weight, but also maintain your physical and mental health.
Also Read: Amazing Health Benefits of Broccoli You Need to Know
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