Your Weight Loss Is Being Sabotaged By Sleep!

In the United States approximately 40% of adults do not get the recommended level of sleep for our body to work properly. In addition 17-28% of US adults are suffering with a sleep disorder that had not been diagnosed. Sleep is an important element to overall health and to our bodies working at their best. “There is no doubt that insufficient sleep promotes hunger and appetite, which can cause excessive food in-take and weight gain, “says Eve Van Cauter, Director of Sleep, Metabolism and Health Center of the University of Chicago. “Sleep deprived adults consume, on average, an extra 300 calories a day.” These are usually calories we consume to get energy. It is a major sabotage.

Think about it. We wake up and reach for coffee to boost our energy. Mid-day we feel a bit tired again so we reach for a soda or energy drink (packed with sugar and caffeine). By the end of the work day, we are too tired to hit the gym and perhaps to make dinner, so we grab a prepared meal or fast food (packed with sodium, carbs and calories). It is a major sabotage all because we are tired.

To add insult to injury, when you are sleep deprived you metabolism works at a slower level. Our bodies have two primary hormones that tell us when to eat and when to stop. Ghrelin is the hormone which tells us we are hungry and to eat. When we are sleep deprived, ghrelin is produced at a higher level. Our hormones are telling us we are hungry. Leptin is a hormone that tells us we are satisfied and to stop eating. When we are sleep deprived, our body produces less leptin. It’s a double whammy – you’re eating more and your metabolism is not working at an optimal level.

If you are part of the lucky few that get the prescribed number of hours of sleep on a regular basis, you may still feel the effects because you are not getting the proper rest. Undiagnosed sleep disorders are one of the most commonly undiagnosed disorders. However, this is easy to remedy. There are at-home sleep study kits that are available for you to use in the comfort of your own bedroom.

For more information on the at-home sleep study, how sleep affects health and weight-loss and more information on sleep disorders, join local doctors and fitness experts on Tuesday, June 30th between 6-8pm in West Deptford for a great discussion, to collect information or to get an at-home test. Details can be found at www.eventbrite.com/e/sleep-breathe-be-healthy-tickets-17244410496 . Admission is FREE and all are welcome.

t