More sleep can lead to weight loss, new research reports find that people who sleep more have reduced their daily caloric intake.
A study at the University of Chicago focused on the effects of increased sleep in overweight people who slept less than 6.5 hours per night.
The results showed that participants who slept more reduced their caloric intake by 270 calories per day.
Studies predict that if you continue for more than a year without changing your diet or exercise habits, you will lose nearly 9 pounds (4 kg) and a whopping 26 pounds (12 kg) in three years.
“If you sleep for a long time, weight loss in the form of fat mass is likely to increase over time,” the researchers said.
“Several observations suggest that 7-8 hours of sleep per night is associated with greater success in weight loss interventions.”
The study of sleep and weight loss was published in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine on February 7.
How does sleep help you lose weight?
(Image: Getty Images / iStockphoto)
Previous studies have already shown that sleep deprivation is a risk factor for obesity.
This study investigated a group of 80 overweight people who slept less than 6.5 hours per night.
Participants were not asked to change their diet or exercise habits, and did not even sleep in their own beds.
One group was randomly selected to extend sleep to eight and a half hours. The other group continued as usual.
Scientists found that participants were able to extend their sleep time by 1.2 hours (72 minutes) in two weeks and reduce their daily calorie intake of 270 calories.
Why does sleep reduce calorie intake?
Researchers say, “Evidence from laboratory sleep restriction studies is that increased hunger, changes in appetite-regulating hormones, and changes in brain regions associated with reward-seeking behavior promote binge eating after sleep restriction. It suggests that it is a potential mechanism to do so. “
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In short, less sleep increases hunger and binge eating.
They concluded that “improving and maintaining healthy sleep over the long term may be part of an obesity prevention and weight loss program.”
Dr. Esra Tasali of the University of Chicago Sleep Center said the study did not focus on weight loss.
“But even within just two weeks, we have quantified evidence of reduced calorie intake and a negative energy balance. Calorie intake is less than burned calories,” she said.
“If a healthy sleep habit is maintained for a long period of time, this leads to clinically significant weight loss.
“Many people are working hard to find ways to reduce their calorie intake to lose weight. Well, just sleeping more may save you a lot.”
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