Sleep well, lose weight

22nd September 2012

Adequate sleep is an important part of a weight loss plan and should be added to the recommended mix of diet and exercise, states a commentary in Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Although calorie restriction and increased physical activity are recommended for weight loss, there is significant evidence that inadequate sleep is contributing to obesity. Lack of sleep increases the stimulus to consume more food and increases appetite-regulating hormones.

The solution to weight loss is not as simple as “eat less, move more”. Indeed an accumulating body of evidence suggests that sleeping habits should not be overlooked when prescribing a weight-reduction program to a patient with obesity. Sleep should be included as part of the lifestyle package that traditionally has focused on diet and physical activity.

The authors’ recently published research found that total sleep time and quality of sleep predicted the loss of fat in people enrolled in a weight loss program.

Canadian Medical Association Journal.“Adequate sleep helps weight loss.” ScienceDaily, 17 Sep. 2012. Web. 21 SEPT. 2012.

Categories: Weight Management