Sleep has a powerful influence on weight. When we don’t get a solid 7-8 hours of sleep a night, the hormones that control appetite are disrupted, carb cravings rage, and calorie intake rises. And some studies indicate that without eating a single morsel more, sleep deprivation causes weight gain.
A lot of people don’t get enough quality sleep. There are work demands, swing shifts, family responsibilities, unending “to do” lists, insomnia, sleep apnea, and the intrusion of electronics into our sleeping space.
Sleep 6 hours a night? You’re 23% more likely to be obese than those sleeping 7-9 hours. Just getting in 5 hours? Your risk increases to 50%. Only 4 hours? Your risk spikes to 73%. Wow, who knew that sleep was that important for a healthy weight?
