Sleep Deprivation and Weight Gain

Sleep is a time for the brain, the body, and all the hormones to get regulated and restore themselves to the baseline values for the next day. A large proportion of the people who suffer sleep deprivation are experiencing more weight gain. This is because caffeine or inadequate sleep will disrupt those restorative processes thus you’re ending not as fit or metabolically as you should be.

Does loss of sleep affect a person weight?
Yes. Loss of sleep has an enormous negative effect on the body's hormonal system among other things.

Researches show that continual sleep deprivation will raise the levels of glucose and insulin in the blood. Having surplus insulin boosts body-fat storage and it is an incredible side effect for people trying to lose weight.

Loss of sleep also causes lack of energy and sets up a vicious low-energy cycle that ruins your weight loss program. Often when energy reserves are low, people turn to high-fat and high-sugar laden foods or caffeinated drinks for instant energy …all of which obstruct weight loss efforts. Some may drink 10 to 15 caffeinated beverages a day, which has an adverse effect on sleep quality. It’s a double whammy.

What is the connection between sleep deprivation and weight gain?

Sleep deprivation lowers the levels of leptin - a blood protein that suppresses appetite and affects how the brain registers when the body is full - and raises levels of grehlin – a substance which stimulates appetite – that is thought to play a role in long-term regulation of body weight. Excess ghrelin makes one hunger for more food, and less leptin keep one from feeling full. This is the reason why obese people suffering with sleep apnea often put on weight faster than others. It also explains why they are less likely to exercise and would prefer to sit on the couch and munch on cookies, especially when they get tired.

What is the scientific evidence of sleep deprivation leading to body weight gain?

Researchers found that the more hours of one’s sleep deprivation, the higher his or her possibility of weight gain. Participants in a US study who got less than 4 hours of sleep each night were 73% more likely to be overweight than those who sleep between 7 and 9 hours a night, the recommended amount. Those who slept only 5 hours each night were 50% more likely to be overweight, and those who slept 6 hours a night were 23% more likely to gain more weight.

What is the result of weight gain on loss of sleep?

Fat accumulation in the throat and neck may cause obstruction of airways during sleep leading to poor oxygenation of the lungs. This causes pathological snoring called sleep apnea. You wake up many times during the night. You have day time sleepiness, and again another night of disturbed sleep. This condition is called obstructive sleep apnea.

If so, the obstructive sleep apnea leads to more sleep deprivations, more stress, and more leptin and grehlin fluctuations, and finally more weight gain in a vicious cycle.

In conclusion, sleep deprivation and weight gain is closely related thus you should get lots of good night’s sleep to avoid any unwanted weight gain.