Wednesday, October 21, 2020

How sleep can be the deciding factor on weight loss success

 

Individuals who set out on a weight loss journey often assume that a gym membership would do the job. Without a proper diet and enough sleep, gym-goers could be setting themselves up for defeat. Dr. Lisa M. Cannon shares on this blog how sleep can influence one’s weight loss journey. 

Image source: cdc.gov


People on the road to weight loss must acknowledge early in the game that lack of sleep is the main hindrance to their objective. Sleep loss leads to increased appetite. This is due to the body producing more ghrelin, a hormone released in the stomach signaling hunger in the brain, and less leptin, the hormone suppressing hunger and signaling fullness. Sleep deprivation changes the way one’s brain operates. Lack of sleep potentially decreases activity in the frontal lobe, the part of the brain essential for self-control and decision-making. 

Image source: helpguide.org


Individuals who get enough sleep consume fewer calories compared to those who sleep for a short period. People who exercise regularly and include weightlifting in their routine develop their muscles. Lean muscles are known to burn fat, which improves resting metabolism. Lack of sleep decreases muscle mass, which could lower one’s resting metabolic rate.

According to Dr. Lisa M. Cannon, sleep deprivation is to be blamed for daytime fatigue. Individuals who do not prioritize sleep are more likely to want to skip exercise as they could lose motivation to do anything physical. Athletic performance is improved in those who get more sleep. A 10-hour sleep each night for a few weeks can alter an athlete’s performance, improving their reaction time, accuracy, and speed.

Dr. Lisa M. Cannon specializes in critical care, sleep medicine, and pulmonary diseases. A board-certified physician, she received her medical degree from New York College of Medicine and her fellowship in pulmonary disease, critical care, and sleep medicine from Mount Sinai Hospital. Head over to this page for more updates.

1 comment:

  1. I started on COPD Herbal treatment from Ultimate Health Home, the treatment worked incredibly for my lungs condition. I used the herbal treatment for almost 4 months, it reversed my COPD. My severe shortness of breath, dry cough, chest tightness gradually disappeared. Reach Ultimate Health Home via their website www.ultimatelifeclinic.com I can breath much better and It feels comfortable!

    ReplyDelete