OMG!!! Lack of Sleep could Get You Fat!!

Source: Article from ChannelNewsAsia.com, 28th July 2009

The benefits of a good night's sleep go beyond improving your concentration and overall well-being. Researchers have found that it is also good for your waistline.

Those who consistently fail to get enough sleep may experience weight gain, according to findings presented at Sleep 2009 in Seattle last month.

A study on 92 healthy adults conducted by University of Pennsylvania found that those who had less than the average amount of sleep gained an average of 1.3kg during the 11-day experiment.

Another study on 1,000 volunteers conducted by Stanford University in California found that those who slept less than eight hours a night had higher levels of body fat. Those who reportedly slept the least weighed the most.

According to Dr Lim, who is the director of Sleep Disorders Unit at Singapore General Hospital, sleep deprivation is "a stressful state which alters our body's hormonal environment".

Lack of sleep decreases the level of leptin, a hormone that makes one feel full after eating. It also increases the level ghrelin, a "hunger hormone" that stimulates one's appetite. This results in overeating and weight gain, said Dr Lim.

"People who don't get enough sleep may also feel tired and exercise less," she added.

For those who have less sleep because they stay up late, eating habits such as bingeing on calorie-laden foods to stay awake may be the reason behind the weight gain, said Ms Lim Su Lin, chief dietitian and senior manager at National University Hospital's dietetics department.

"To stay awake, they may resort to drinking high-sugar, caffeinated beverages or munching on tidbits," said Ms Lim. They may pile on the pounds as a result.

So what constitutes a good night's sleep?

"It is simply one from which we wake up naturally (without an alarm clock), feeling refreshed, alert and able to function at peak mental performance," said Dr Lim. A person who sleeps well would not need to nap in the middle of the day.

Adults require six to 10 hours of sleep.

(Click here to read the full report >>)

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Mr.Keropok's thoughts:

*Pinching the spare tyre on my waistline* ... Hmm.... Based on this report, then I should start clocking more sleep time instead my borderline of 6 hours daily.

But in all things, everything must be seen from holistic approach. Apart from amount of sleep, one other way to control our waistline has definitely got to be our diet and regular exercise. So here's my battle plan:

1. Cut down on soft drinks and any other sweetened drinks. Only drink one cup of tea per day, one sweet drink per week.
2. No supper! (this is gonna be tough!)
   
3. Exercise at least twice a week. (I need people to push me on this!)
   

Objective is not about slimming down, but keeping fit. =D

Stay tuned for my next posting on Anorexia!