Sleep Helps with Weight Loss

Diet and exercise are not the only components necessary in an effective weight loss plan. A recent study indicates that getting enough sleep may be just as important as diet and exercise for reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.

Sleep deprivation affects two hormones: leptin and ghrelin. Leptin is the hormone that tells you to stop eating, and ghrelin stimulates appetite. When we don’t get enough sleep, leptin levels fall and ghrelin levels rise and normal control of appetite is lost.

In addition to loss of normal appetite control, the sleep-deprived tend to crave foods with sugar, salt, and starch like chips, cakes, and crackers – further adding to their weight problem.

A recent study at Columbia University found that people who slept four hours or less per night were 73% more likely to be obese. Those getting 5 hours sleep per night were 50%, and six hours, 23% more likely to be overweight. “Getting more sleep actually had a protective effect against obesity” according to the lead researcher James E. Gangwisch.

So, if you are want to obtain your perfect weight, you must eat a balanced, nutritious diet, exercise, and get a good night’s sleep (at least 7-8 hours). [ Copyright © 2004 World Image Naturals, Inc. www.worldimagenaturals.com ]

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