It’s that same time in the middle of the night or the wee hours of the morning when all of a sudden, you just wake up and submit to the fact that you will no longer be able to sleep just the way you have planned. For some others, even if sleep is regarded as a necessity, it becomes a luxury because of the competition set by a very dynamic career and personal life where you are supposedly forced to have less sleep.
Unfortunately, sleep deprivation is something that is becoming an unhealthy trend that affects individuals across all ages. What most people generally know is that sleeping less than six hours in a 24-hour cycle will only result to irritability, headache, temporary memory impairment and lapses, confusion and temper tantrums among children. However, the problems do not just end here; apart from numerous risks in developing chronic ailments, less sleep also means weight gain which can ultimately lead to obesity.
One will be surprised at the apparent connection of less sleep and weight gain. The problem stems from two hormones that affect one’s appetite; their balance is critical in maintaining one’s optimum weight. One hormone, Ghrelin is responsible for stimulating appetite; increased levels are seen when you are hungry, before meals and drops after meals. Meanwhile, Leptin, the second hormone is primarily in charge of signalling that you have reached your point of satiation and that you no longer need any more additional food. Studies show that when you lack sleep, the making of these two hormones are negatively altered. As for Ghrelin, the body is induced to produce more; consequently resulting to an individual becoming hungrier just because he lacks sleep. On the other hand, the Leptin is reduced to lower levels so one does not feel full nor satiated even if he eats a whole lot. The resulting hormonal imbalance, sadly, is not something we can really see and feel in such a short amount of time. The striking imbalance resulting to an odd behavior is definitely something we just don’t notice for the longest time.
For other people, weight gain with less sleep, even with the explanation of hormones, is something that is not convincing. They will assert that when one is awake, he is likely to burn more calories. Regrettably, this situation does not apply to many as most people have an increased chance of munching, gulping or slurping something sugary, fatty or greasy when they are awake. Therefore, this is when sleeping is certainly far better than being awake. When one sleeps, it is suggested that 60 – 65% of calories are burned.
Be careful not to oversleep though but that is another story. So, to make sure that you don’t gain those unwanted pounds, it is best to have eight to ten hours of sleep in a day. Try to establish a more scheduled routine so you won’t toss and turn in your bed. In addition, if you can’t sleep during your scheduled time, you can make use of sleep aids such as milk, appropriate lighting and relaxation techniques. If all else fails, then, it is time to visit your doctor.
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