Sleep and Obesity - Facts with Hope

How does sleep relate to obesity? Here is the Fact: when we are short-changed on sleep, we make up for it — in calories. Columbia University researchers found that people actually eat more when they are sleep-deprived vs. well-rested. Normal-weight men and women consumed 296 calories more on average when they slept for four hours vs. when they got a full night's sleep. That is also true with kids and adolescents. Researchers have found that one of the root causes for the epidemic of childhood obesity is sleep deprivation. Overall, most of the extra calories came from high-fat foods such as ice cream and fast foods.

Here is the Hope: If you are trying to lose weight, take an inventory of your sleep habits. Address chronic sleep deprivation as part of your overall weight loss strategy. Cutting 300 calories a day from your diet may be as easy as getting to bed earlier.

Isn’t it time to rearrange your schedule to get to bed before 10 p.m.? I would answer Yes to that! Our daily healthy choices can make a difference in preventing disease and in our overall wellbeing.

For more Facts with Hope please go to the NAD Health Ministries website or subscribe to our Health Unlimited newsletter which contains more evidence-based information on choosing a more full, abundant life. (John 10:10)

Facts with Hope are evidence-based health messages that may be used in a church bulletin, newsletter, or during the "Health Minute" as part of church service to motivate people to choose a full, abundant life.

by Katia Reinert, MSN, CRNP, FNP-BC, PHCNS-BC, FCN
Director, NAD Adventist Health Ministries [NAD News Points]