Don't miss out on your ZZZZzzz's

By Bob Wright, M.A.T.
Director of Education, Hilton Head Health

There was a weight loss product years ago that claimed if you took it, you would lose weight while you slept.   Unfortunately, like most things that sound too good to be true, it was. 

But what does seem to be true, is that you have to sleep to lose weight.  If you don’t get enough sleep, not only are you too tired to eat right and exercise, but you influence the production and release of important hormones that affect your appetite.

Leptin is a hormone that helps you keep your appetite under control (if its levels drop, your appetite increases), and grhelin is a hormone that stimulates appetite when it’s elevated.  If you haven’t already guessed, sleep deprivation reduces the levels of leptin and increases the levels of grhelin.

Exhaustion and a raging appetite don’t sound like a prescription of successful weight management.  Most people operate best when they get 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. If you are getting significantly less than that or if you are chronically tired, getting a good night’s sleep might be the best thing you can do to manage your weight.  

In addition to contributing to weight gain, chronic sleep deprivation has been shown to weaken the immune system, increases the risk of diabetes and hypertension, reduces short term memory and problem solving skills, increases feelings of frustration, anxiety and anger, and makes us lousy drivers (it’s estimated that 20% of all serious motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. are caused by drowsy drivers).  Clearly, getting a good night’s sleep is not a luxury, but an essential component of a healthy lifestyle.

If sleeping well has been a problem for you, you’re not alone.  According to the National Sleep Foundation, close to 40% of our population is so sleepy that it interferes with their normal activities. Fortunately most people can significantly improve their quality of sleep. 

For tips on getting a good night’s sleep and to learn more about the effects of sleep on weight and health, check out the National Sleep Foundation at www.sleepfoundation.org, or ask your doctor for advice or a referral to a sleep specialist.