As per a recent research conducted by the scientists there is a potential role of sleep education in weight loss programs. The research has been published in the journal JAMA Network.
Weight Gain
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), "rates of obesity have almost tripled since 1975. In the United States, 42.4% of people had obesity in 2017–2018, up from 30.5% in 1999–2000."
Higher weight may lead to several health issues like stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. As believed by the researchers, not getting enough sleep is a risk factor leading to weight gain.
Benefits of taking Proper Sleep
- Reduces stress
- Improves immunity
- Lowers the risk of serious health issues
- Controls excessive weight
The Research
The researchers have examined the relationship between sleep duration and calorie intake in a real-life setting. The randomized controlled trial was administered on 80 adult participants aged 21–40. The participants were overweight and sleeping less than 6.5 hours per night.
Dr. Esra Tasali, director of the Sleep Research Center at the University of Chicago and corresponding author, explained to Medical News Today, “The doubly labeled water method is a urine-based test that involves a person drinking a harmless water in which both the hydrogen and oxygen atoms are replaced with less common, but naturally occurring, stable isotopes that are easy to trace.”
The Researchers' Views
Dr. Lu Qi, director of the Tulane University Obesity Research Center said, “Sleeping longer may affect the secretion of appetite regulatory hormones, such as leptin and ghrelin, which may inhibit intakes of foods and energy. In addition, there are studies suggesting that sleep restriction may change the brain activity related to food reward, and shorter sleep provides greater reward of food”, quoted Medical News Today.