With every positive intention to remain healthy and nourished, sometimes your weight creeps up on the scale leaving you with questions as to why. Are you sleeping enough? If you’ve maintained a dietary regimen that follows the motto ‘everything in moderation’ it’s important to ask yourself questions regarding your sleeping habits. A lack of sleep can cause unwanted pounds added to your pillow and a host of other complications.
The Signs of Sleep Deprivation
- Irritability
- Daytime fatigue
- Migraines
- Difficulty focusing
- Elevated blood pressure
- Muscle aches
- Dark circles under eyes
- Depression
- Sensitivity to cold
- Memory loss
Obesity is a consequence of not sleeping, mainly due to the fact that your appetite increases when you don’t receive adequate sleep. When energy intake is greater than expenditure it impacts appetite regulation, impairs glucose metabolism, and increases blood pressure. Therefore, poor quality sleep is linked to an increased risk of obesity and higher BMI (body mass index) by de-regulating appetite, which leads to increased energy consumption.
Complications
People who are overweight have a tendency to develop sleep apnea, which is the cessation of breathing throughout the night followed by intermittent gasps for air and snoring. The association between obesity and sleep apnea is due to the location of where a person gains the most weight, typically the neck and your midsection area. The respiratory function is then compromised and daytime sleepiness ensues. A person who is lacking sleep may not feel inclined to exercise or eat properly, oftentimes creating a vicious cycle of repeated patterning of insomnia and weight gain. Anything under six hours of sleep is setting you up for complications that can stem further beyond a disrupted metabolism; there’s the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke as well. Yet it’s the lack of sleep that contributes most to an increased appetite. The problem comes to a head when you link your fatigue to needing more food as fuel.
Treatment
Oftentimes the best way to treat obesity is to treat the underlying sleep problems. First talk to your primary care physician or a sleep professional who can address the nature of the sleep disorder. You need to also have a discussion with your bed partner who is privy to your snoring and may want to accompany you to your consultation and evaluation. At North Texas Sleep Solutions, Dr. Rebecca Lauck is the friendly professional most recommended in the area. She and her skilled team do an amazing job throughout the entire process of helping you with your sleep disorder. Connect with them today, and see what the buzz is about!