Sleep deprivation spurs hunger

iamhealingmyself

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/23/sleep.deprivation.health/?hpt=Sbin#

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
People tend to eat more calories on the day after they've had short sleep -four hours
Overweight people often have sleep problems

The study offers "one more data point that sleep-deprived people have more weight issues"

Mindful_Trent

This doesn't surprise me at all. I find that when I'm up late (end of a long day) or when I haven't gotten enough sleep I'm much more likely to snack mindlessly - even when I'm not hungry. Being tired chips away at my mental defenses.

nehtaeh

But what came first, the weight issue or the sleep issue? Are you having sleep issues because of your weight or weight issues because of your sleep? Either way, I say getting enough sleep is important for MANY reasons. Yay sleep!!!!

iamhealingmyself

yeah I agree - which came first? they could have come together...
I personally find that when I'm overtired I am more likely to succumb to dumb temptations that normally wouldn't even interest me never mind have those I normally have control over.

My weight comes from inactivity but that inactivity comes from lack of mobility in my entire spine and a period of 4 months the end of 2009 that had me pretty much totally disabled until mid May 2010. During this time I had sleep problems from pain which lead to more eating and that led to more trouble moving when I did try etc. It's a vicious cycle but sometimes we allow it to happen to some extent. Sometimes it's just easier to give up until we get sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time.

It's been a steady climb since the onset this time and by the end of last year I just didn't care what I was eating until I really started to feel bad and set my mind to start over on January 1st.

Mindful_Trent

But what came first, the weight issue or the sleep issue? Are you having sleep issues because of your weight or weight issues because of your sleep?

Good point - I think it is different for each individual. Personally, I know that my sleep issues are due to me hating to go to bed early even though I wake up early for work and trying to play catch-up on the weekends. When I'm tired during the week, I give-in and binge or snack more than I would otherwise. I wouldn't say I'm obese because of my sleep problems, but I do think that my sleep issues contribute to a state of being that makes it harder to focus on being healthy and stick with it. That said, I'm sure there are others who have sleep problems *because of* of their weight issues - I know when it gets to a certain point, weight issues can cause sleep apnea, etc. (my dad battled with this).

Either way, I say getting enough sleep is important for MANY reasons. Yay sleep!!!!

Totally agreed!