Want to shed pounds effectively? Prioritize longer nights of rest. Leading American researchers have found that individuals who sleep less are at higher risk of becoming overweight.
Even with an active lifestyle, short sleepers gain fat more readily. Hormones are a key factor: skimping on sleep disrupts leptin levels—the hormone that regulates hunger—prompting overeating.
In this study, participants wore specialized bracelets to track movement, body temperature, and other vital metrics. Notably, long sleepers were less active overall compared to their short-sleeping counterparts.
Short sleepers also reported higher stress levels and more frequent forgetfulness, pushing them to overcompensate and heighten stress-eating tendencies, ultimately contributing to greater weight gain.
