Well the facts are in, according to the CDC 30% of Americans don’t get enough sleep.
That may come as no surprise. Thanks to long working hours, the wide availability of coffee, and the ability to stream your favorite tv show. However, there is a more sinister side to this fact that may grab your attention.
Turns out that science has proven that a lack of sleep is directly related to obesity.
Read on to find out how.
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Extra time to eat.
This one is pretty simple, the reality is the longer you stay awake the more in need you are of an extra meal or else fall privy to snacking.
With most of this extra awake time spent in a state of low activity (like sitting on the couch), this leads to a caloric surplus which of course leads to weight gain.
See, before lightbulbs, people got up when the sun did and went to bed when the sun set.
Now thanks to technology and less labor-intensive jobs we are not as physically worn out when it comes to bed time.
Plus now in the 21st century, we have more things to do at night time such as watching a movie which usually involves a sweet/savory snack such as popcorn.
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Lack of sleep effects our diet choices.
When we are tired as a result of sleep deprivation, our bodies tend to compensate for this by craving high-calorie, carb-rich foods such as:
- Pasta
- Pizza
- Bagels
- Donuts
Basically, anything that is high in fat, carbs, and calories which unfortunately is not good for waistlines….
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You exercise less.
Here’s a quick test: who wants to work out when they are tired? Exactly.
The last thing you want to do when you feel sluggish is exercise. Unfortunately, this is a vicious cycle as regular exercise has been proven to leave people feeling more energetic and even improve their sleep quality!
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Lack of sleep slows down your metabolism.
One of the best ways to fight fat is with a super fast metabolism. (Like that one skinny person you know who eats like crazy while maintaining the perfect weight.)
This combined with the other factors already discussed form a dangerous recipe for weight gain. Not only are you eating more and exercising less, but your body is burning through calories at a slower rate.
Yikes.
The science behind this suggests that it can be due to hormonal imbalances induced by sleep deprivation and the only way to combat it is with some high-quality Zs.
Surely it’s not the worst remedy you’ve been told to take?
Get a good night’s sleep with a great mattress.
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The first step to a good night’s sleep starts with a great mattress, but the market is so flooded and it can be tough to find the right one.
By checking out the latest mattress reviews you can be sure to pick the right mattress for the best night’s sleep.