Weight Loss and Sleep - Their Interconnected Relationship


It is long since been known that weight loss and sleep go hand in hand and that you just can't do one without the other. But just why that is, is a topic that's still largely up for debate. Researchers and scientists have made great strides in trying to understand the unique relationship that sleep has with weight loss, but a conclusive answer has yet to be found.
Researchers do know that it largely comes down to cortisol. This hormone is excreted by the adrenal gland and both cortisol and
adrenaline work together to regulate the daily hormone cycle of the body. Adrenaline does many things for the body on its own. It increases a person's energy, increases metabolism, and makes a person feel more alert. Adrenaline helps release energy by burning fat cells. Cortisol also helps to increase the amount of energy a person has by using proteins to make sugar.
Researchers also know that, in times of stress, the adrenal gland is sometimes triggered, which releases both cortisol and adrenaline. This sends signals to the metabolic functions of the body and can make a person feel hunger pains when they're really not hungry at all. A lack of sleep means that the body doesn't have time to rest and restore itself to deal with the stress, which will result in an imbalance of the metabolic functions. This can cause a person to lose weight. And unfortunately, it's usually in times of stress that a person finds it most difficult to sleep.
People who suffer from a lack of sleep are also more likely to become depressed. This depression, along with the simple exhaustion of not having slept, makes people tend to not move around as much. The reason for not losing weight here is obvious. The less active a person is, the less likely it is that they will lose weight. Both of these reasons explain why people also turn to food when they are feeling stressed or depressed. And this of course, will not be helpful when trying to lose weight. Getting enough sleep however, can combat both of these problems, and can end with better weight loss results.
Adrenal Fatigue may be another answer to why lack of sleep affects weight loss. When the body is very tired, the adrenal gland may become overworked and exhausted. This will cause it to experience fatigue, which then sends a signal to the brain that you are hungry. This is why when people are tired they often crave things such as carbohydrates and sugary sweets.
Getting a good night's sleep is essential when trying to lose weight. It is only during sleep that the body has a chance to regulate its functions and restore any damage during the day. Getting enough sleep also ensures that your body will be able to work properly, helping you to lose weight. For most adults, 7 - 8 hours of sleep is necessary every night. And if you find that you have trouble falling asleep, get yourself into a routine such as reading a good book just before you fall asleep. This over time will tell your body that it's winding down and time to go to sleep.
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