Have you ever noticed that you eat more after a night where
you didn’t get any sleep or slept poorly? Studies have been conducted that show
that a lack of sleep can actually increase your appetite throughout the day.
This can make you overeat; you have a daily need of food, as does each person.
If you eat in excess of that daily amount, you risk gaining weight.
Role of Hormones
The hormones that are affected by your sleep pattern are
called leptin, which suppresses our appetite and tells us that we are full, and
ghrelin, which is a stimulant for our appetite, telling us that we are hungry
and should eat. When you don’t get enough sleep, the body increases ghrelin,
making you eat more, and reduces the amount of leptin, which tells your body
you are full. Therefore, you end up eating more, even though you are not
actually hungry and don’t need the added food. This means that lack of sleep
equals more ghrelin and less leptin, which means you may gain weight.
The solution is clearly to get more sleep. This can be
difficult for some people, but setting a good routine is vital to getting
appropriate sleep. Try to go to bed and wake at the same times every day to get
your body on a regular cycle. Melatonin is another option for helping to
control your sleep cycles. It is a natural mineral that has proven to help
people get to sleep and maintain a healthy rhythm.
Weight is dependant on exercise and a healthy diet, but
lifestyle problems such as too little sleep, can also affect weight. If you are
worried you have an imbalance in ghrelin and leptin, consult your doctor.
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