Around 50% of people try to lose weight every year. It’s such a common goal, and while everyone knows that diet and exercise can help the most, there are so many other nuanced factors.
If more people knew about how sleep affects weight loss, they might try to get a couple more hours of shut-eye every night. Understanding the extent of the relationship between sleep and weight loss could be the key you need to keep off the weight for good.
So, does sleep affect weight loss, and in what ways? This guide covers all the basics that you need to know!
Sleep Improves Your Metabolism
Your resting metabolism (or base metabolic rate) is the rate your body burns energy when it is resting. Studies show that the less sleep you get, the worse your metabolic rate gets. This means you could be taking away your body’s opportunity to burn more calories as you rest.
Those with a higher muscle mass also burn more calories than those with less muscle mass when resting. But poor sleep can decrease muscle mass, too, taking away even more chances for weight loss.
Sleep Increases Your Physical Activity
When you don’t get enough sleep, you feel far more fatigued during the day than you would if you got a better night’s sleep. This is common knowledge, but it means that you are less likely to perform physical activities.
You will feel less compelled to hit the gym after work, and your energy levels will crash quicker. You will likely head for the elevator rather than taking the stairs, which will remove an opportunity for your body to burn more calories.
Adding more physical activity into your daily routine is one of the best weight loss tips anyone can give you.
Less Sleep Will Increase Your Appetite
One of the biggest ways how sleep affects weight loss is that poor sleep increases your appetite. Without the energy you gain from a good night’s sleep, your body will look for sustenance via other means. Like that buttery croissant in the coffee shop window or a big, juicy burger and fries rather than a salad!
Sleep deprivation also affects the two hormones that regulate your hunger. Less sleep means more of the ghrelin hormone, which tells your brain that you are hungry. It also means less of the leptin hormone, which lets your brain know that you are full.
Poor sleep also means increased stress, and many people pacify their anxiety with binge-eating.
That’s Exactly How Sleep Affects Weight Loss
Getting more rest is one of the best things you can do for your body, whether you want to lose weight or not. But if you do want to shift a few pounds, now you know exactly how sleep affects weight loss, you won’t miss a nap again!
Are you kickstarting a new, healthier you and want more tips to help you achieve your goals? Browse our diet and fitness articles packed with helpful information!
