Most of us struggle with our weight, particularly in the winter when the temperatures drop and it’s easier to stay indoors. If you’re looking for a way to shed those unwanted pounds, you’ve probably considered trying sleep deprivation therapy. The idea behind this treatment is to deprive your body of the high-quality shuteye it needs to function at its best by depriving it of time in bed. You’ll learn here what is known about how much sleep you need to lose weight and whether sleep deprivation therapy is a good option for you.
The Need For Sufficient Sleep
Just like with most things in life, there is more than one answer as to how much sleep you need to lose weight. However, most experts agree that you need at least seven hours of shuteye a night to maintain a healthy weight. Let’s take a look at the evidence supporting this recommendation.
The Link Between Sleep And Weight Regulation
Scientists are still figuring out exactly how sleep helps with weight regulation. Some theorize that time in bed allows your body to repair itself, while others believe that sleeping allows your pancreas to produce hormones that help to regulate your appetite. No matter which theory you subscribe to, there is a clear link between insufficient sleep and abnormal weight gain.
A 2015 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who got only five hours of sleep a night had significantly higher levels of ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates appetite. The same study also found that participants who got less than five hours of sleep a night had significantly higher levels of insulin resistance, which is the ability of the body’s cells to respond to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps to regulate blood sugar, and people with higher insulin resistance have problems maintaining normal blood sugar levels, which can lead to weight gain and diabetes.
So, not only does sleep help keep your weight in check, but it also appears to be crucial for keeping your blood sugar levels in balance. In addition to helping with blood sugar regulation, sleep has also been shown in studies to help the body produce more adiponectin, an insulin-sensitizing hormone that promotes healthy weight loss. Further bolstering the argument for adequate sleep is the fact that people who get less than seven hours of sleep a night are more likely to be overweight or obese. Simply put, poor sleep hygiene can leave you at risk of obesity and its associated health problems.
The UPSIDE Of Feeling Tired (Even When You’re Not)
Here’s the deal: feeling sleepy even when you’re not actually sleep deprived is actually a very good thing. In fact, there are several perks to falling asleep when you want to, even if it’s late at night and even if you’ve been awake for a while. Let’s take a look.
- You’ll get to experience novelty
- You’ll get a break from your regular routine
- You’ll get to relax
- You’ll get to restore and repair your body (particularly your brain)
If you’re looking to shed some pounds, you might be wondering if sleep deprivation therapy is the way to go. You might be wondering if getting less sleep than usual will help you to lose more weight. While the short answer is yes, sleep hygiene is crucial to help ensure you get the best results from this treatment. It’s important to note here that sleep hygiene refers to the things you do both before and after you go to sleep. Improving your sleep hygiene will help ensure you get the most out of your nightly eight hours of rest.