Did you know that poor sleep can hinder weight loss?

Unhealthy weight can affect a person’s overall well-being not just physically but also psychologically. Numerous people worldwide are making a conscious effort to shed those extra kilos to look fit and fine. After all, the way you look defines your personality and affects your confidence level. However, there is one hidden factor that seems to thwart all efforts you take to look good – your sleeping pattern.

As reported by the Medical News Today, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney diseases have shared statistics, which shows that more than one of every three adults is found to be over-weight. The same is the case with obesity. People with obesity are more prone to be diagnosed with heart ailment and diabetes in later life.

It is imperative to know that being over-weight is not the single factor that can be life-threatening. Lack of proper sleep is one factor which is overlooked by many. It is the root cause of where health issues arise.

Ideally, it is said that a good 7 hours of sound sleep makes a person feel rested. However, with the corporate culture creeping in, odd working hours, stress and unhealthy lifestyle, sleep gets disrupted. Statistics of 2017 reveal that in the US alone, 36 per cent of the people did not get adequate sleep and did not feel rested.

It is a known fact that inadequate sleep could be the cause of numerous other complications. It can affect the blood circulation as it elevates the blood pressure level, affects memory as you start forgetting things, loses concentration and others. It can also affect the social relationships that a person shares; lethargy creeps in.

According to the International Journal of Obesity, there is a link between interrupted sleep and weight loss. It states that people who do not get adequate sleep face difficulty in losing weight, despite them working out in comparison to those who get good sleep.

If you want to lose weight, good sleep is an absolute must. According to Prof Jodi Salas- Salvado, the increase in obesity prevalence rate is an epidemic of sleep disturbances. In a clinical trial conducted by the PREDIMED-Plus, all the participants who were overweight showed signs of hypertension, increased the level of insulin, abnormal level of lipid and others.

The people diagnosed with these health issues, followed a rigorous Mediterranean-type diet for a year, along with physical activity, behavioural support sessions to improve their lifestyle.

At the end of the period, it was found that participants who slept well for a regular period of time, lost significant weight in their body mass index (BMI). It was thus proved that sleep patterns play a significant role in weight loss management. Lifestyle changes that promote adequate sleep or sound sleep should be incorporated to facilitate weight loss.