I've heard of lack of sleep causes weight gain. Is this true? Why?

Question

And how much sleep do you actually need to be missing?

i've heard of studies that say it does, but i forgot where or i'd read up on it. Something about an increase in cortisol?

Answer 1

Poor sleep leads to your body being stressed. Your body responds to stressors with fight or flight. Back when we had to run from lions to live, this response was great. Now our stressors tend to be longer term, rather than immediate and quickly alleviated. When your body is stressed and trying to make itself better equiped to run or fight, it releases cortisol which inhibits other functions, basically to save energy to divert to the fighting and running. For example, your digestive system is put in emergency mode and puts as little energy into digesting your food as it can and still get the nutrients, etc. you need. It stores fat in the most convenient place - your belly, and more of your food it just stored as fat. This was no big deal when we ran from the lion and got to safety and the stress response stopped. Now we are stressed for long periods of time. You can imagine what this does to your body over time.

Sleep is also essential to keep your body in good health, so lack of sleep itself with lower all your bodily functions including immune function and metabolism, causing some of the same effects. A night or two with poor sleep won't be a big deal. A couple weeks, you'll feel it. A true disruption in your sleep cycle can take a while to remedy.

Hope something in there helps.

Answer 2

Yes it's true. If you don't get at least 7-8 hours of sleep, cortisol (among other things) can build up in your system and cause you to want to eat more. This is especially true in women.

Answer 3

I haven't gotten a decent night of sleep in five years. No more than two or three hours per night. I think I have anxiety. Anyways, I am 5'8" and I weigh 155 pounds. I am a male. I don't think that is overweight at all.

Answer 4

u should always get at least 8 hours of sleep. (9 hours would be better). but ive never heard n e one say it causes weight gain. cant wait to see the other answers. good question
d

Answer 5

I believe it is weight gain that causes lack of sleep (i.e. Sleep apnea)

Answer 6

know how when you don't sleep you tired.well you bodies not running properly so it will not burn calories correctly. i don't know how much you will actually need to miss but i don know you can only go 10 days without sleep before you die. it why they use it as torture

Answer 7

yes

Answer 8

most likely because you are awake longer and tend to eat more

Answer 9

I agree with Thine.