SLEEPING AFFECTS YOUR APPETITE AND YOUR WEIGHT

The link between sleep and weight is very much analyzed nowadays. As a result, there are reasons to assume that sleep deprivation can lead to obesity. For example, sleep deprivation appears to have a direct influence on the hormones leptin and ghrelin.  

Leptin is the hormone that lets your brain know that you have eaten enough. If you don't get enough sleep - 5 hours or less - your leptin level drops and you tend to eat more.  

Ghrelin signals to your brain that you are hungry, that it is time to eat. The less you sleep, the more ghrelin your body produces. Result: a greater feeling of hunger.

In addition, scientists have found that people who sleep too little have too high a BMI at an early age, which in many cases leads to obesity in later life. A lack of sleep causes you to burn body fat more slowly.

THE MORE SLEEP, THE SLIMMER?

Unfortunately, sleep is not a panacea for losing weight. It is not the case that you automatically become slimmer if you sleep x number of hours longer. It's mainly about getting enough sleep, namely 7 to 8 hours. This way you will notice that your appetite will normalize and you will be a bit fitter. Also think about the collateral damage: if you don't sleep enough, you are tired during the day and logically you don't feel like exercising as much.

Now, you can work on your excess weight or that extra kilo on various levels. Move more, eat healthily and get enough sleep!