Can Lack of Sleep Cause You to Gain Weight?

Dietary indulgences and sitting too much while moving too infrequently are the common culprits of weight gain. But there are some other sneaky ways that the pounds can creep up on you, like not getting enough restful sleep at night. If you’re sleeping on a worn-out, uncomfortable mattress, hearing about the clinical evidence that connects weight gain to sleep deprivation just may convince you to head out to your local mattress showroom in Portland.

Changing body shapes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found that about 65 percent of all Americans are either overweight or obese. In 1999, just 27 percent of adults were obese and in 1980, that number was only 15 percent. The changing body shapes of Americans over the years can be attributed to a number of factors, including dietary changes and declining physical activity.

“A hundred and fifty years ago, a sedentary lifestyle was considered to be that of a farmer’s wife,” says Richard Simon, MD, a sleep specialist in Walla Walla, WA. Dr. Simon went on to note that Americans are also getting much less sleep than we once did, making for a perfect storm of weight gain and obesity.

So how much sleep do we need?

Everyone’s sleep requirements are different, but in general, sleeping fewer than five hours per night is associated with weight gain. The average person needs about 7.5 hours to feel well rested. According to the Mayo Clinic, a study found that women who slept fewer than six hours each night were more likely to gain 11 pounds than women who got just one more hour of sleep each night. Other studies have confirmed these results with adolescents and children. Another study evaluated recurrent sleep deprivation in men and found that it increased a man’s likelihood of reaching for high-calorie foods.

The relationship between sleep deprivation and weight gain is complex and multifaceted. Firstly, sleep deprivation may encourage a person to reach for high-calorie foods in a misguided attempt to increase energy levels. Secondly, when a person is excessively tired during the day, that person may be much less likely to hit the gym. And thirdly, sleep deprivation appears to disrupt the proper balance of hormones, including ghrelin and leptin. When these hormones are out of sync, a person’s appetite is increased. The end result is that not only does a sleep deprived person eat more calories, but that person’s metabolism is also adversely affected.

Mattress World Northwest has the solution

If you’ve been tossing and turning, then you already understand all too well the importance of a good night’s rest. With the help of the Sleep Specialists at Mattress World Northwest, you can get the healthy Zzz’s you need to put your mind at ease and keep your tummy trim. We’re more than just another mattress store; we’re a locally owned and operated family business dedicated to providing the utmost experience in customer care. It’s our mission to help you find the perfect mattress. Stop by one of our 17 locations in Portland today and ask us about our Comfort Guarantee.

Related articles:

1. Mayo Clinic, Is too little sleep a cause of weight gain? http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/sleep-and-weight-gain/faq-20058198
2. National Sleep Foundation, Obesity and Sleep, https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/obesity-and-sleep

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