It’s hard to fathom that something trivial can make us lose weight.
However, for some individuals, it’s an ordeal.
I am talking about sleep.
We take sleep for granted, but it’s crucial to our health.
Sleep and belly fat research
Research shows that there is a correlation between sleep and belly fat.
In a 5 year study of sleep duration, people under the age of 40 who slept less than 5 hours or slept more than 8 hours gained belly fat.
In contrast, people who slept between 6 to 7 hours lost fat.
[source: Sleep Duration and Five-Year Abdominal Fat Accumulation in a Minority Cohort:The IRAS Family Study]
Does sleep cause belly fat?
As the study show, sleep, or lack thereof, does cause belly fat. However, over 40’s seem to have no problem with belly fat when sleeping more or less than the ideal 6 to 7 hours.
In saying that, I believe, no matter your age, you will gain weight if you are not getting adequate sleep. Why?
- You’ll eat more
- You’ll be tired
- Insulin resistance increases
The older we get, the less we sleep. I can see this with my mother, who used to sleep for 7 to 8 hours. She is now 70, the duration of her sleep reduced to only 5 hours, sometimes 4. She goes to bed early, 8 at night, and wakes up at 1 or 2 in the morning.
Moreover, she mentions that she can’t lose weight no matter how much she reduces her calories. She was quite adamant that she only eats little, but her weight stays the same.
I know that as I got older, my body gains weight a lot easier and harder to lose it.
Sleep plays a significant role in our body’s ability to control hunger, to recharge, and to keep us healthy.
You’ll eat more
When you don’t get enough sleep, you increase your Ghrelin hormones and decrease Leptin. Leptin is a hormone that controls your feeling of “fullness.”
Elevated Ghrelin hormones can lead to overeating. Hence, Ghrelin earned its nickname, the hunger hormone.
It’s also been proven that you tend to put on 300 calories more than those who get enough sleep.
Also, when you have plenty of uptime, you’ll probably crave that cheesecake in the fridge or those potato crisps you have stocked up for the “kids.”
And when you binge on Netflix, you can double or triple the number of crisps or cheesecakes you eat.
You’ll be tired
Lack of sleep can make you tired and lazy. When you are lazy, you are sedentary. You won’t go to the gym, go out to shop, or do anything.
When you do nothing, you are not using as many calories as you are active. The fewer calories you use, the likelihood of you being fat increases.
Insulin resistance increases
Sleep deprivation can lead to insulin resistance. When your body is Insulin resistant, your ability to use glucose (simple sugar) for energy diminishes.
When your body is insulin resistant, over time, your blood sugar levels go up, leading to obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.
[source: Lose Sleep, Gain Weight: Another Piece of the Obesity Puzzle]
Sleep deprivation can cause belly fat.
Does sleep reduce belly fat?
As mentioned, the hormone that controls your feeling of fullness (Leptin) increases when you get enough sleep. When you don’t feel hungry, obviously, the fewer calories you consume.
The more you sleep, the less likely you are to have that extra bar of LCMs, chocolate, or even a cheesecake.
So, get more sleep to lose belly fat.
Sleep apnea and belly fat
Sleep apnea is a form of sleeping disorder that reduces the quantity and quality of sleep. You may have sleep apnea when you snore yourself to wake. You may wake up gasping for air or choking.
Overweight, obese, men and women are the typical sleep apnea patients. Which suggests, belly fat and sleep apnea have a direct correlation.
“Numerous studies have shown the development or worsening of OSA with increasing weight, as opposed to substantial improvement with weight reduction. “
[source: Abdominal fat and sleep apnea: the chicken or the egg?]
Patients reduce sleep apnea when their weight improves. Similarly, patients develop apnea or worsen as they gain weight.
Obesity and apnea go hand in hand.
Sleep away belly fat
A good night’s sleep keeps belly fat away. I should probably trademark this before you use it and sell t-shirts.
In this day and age, everyone is uber busy. Busy with work, with friends, or busy playing. So busy that the average sleep has decreased. Or has it?
I’ve heard a whole lot of noise about advanced technology is ruining our sleep, risking our health. Or the invention of the light bulb has ended a good night’s rest.
I don’t think the light bulb has changed the way we sleep. I mean, I can always turn off the light.
Although, perhaps technology plays a sinister role in our sleeping habits.
I was a gamer, and as a gamer, I was addicted. Totally addicted. I could play games for 12 hours straight, probably even more.
These days, I blog. And blogging keeps me up in the wee hours of the morning. I’m not addicted to blogging like I was at gaming. No, I do it to help others lose weight.
And, it helps me keep up to date with new research, techniques, products on weight loss, and health.
So, it’s a win-win scenario for me.
Does the advancement of technology disrupt sleep? From experience, I believe so.
There is no refuting that sleep plays a significant role in our health. Research confirms that getting enough sleep will reduce your chance of obesity.
Catch up on your sleep
You haven’t been sleeping for years. Does it mean you’re doomed to be disease-ridden and fat?
The good news is that, no, it’s not too late. When you lose sleep, you incur a sleep debt. Just like any debt, you have to pay it back.
A good idea to pay off your sleep debt is to sleep earlier during weekdays. Avoid stimulants at this point.
You can also try sleeping earlier on the weekends and let your body wake you up, not your alarm clock.
I know some people find it hard to sleep, no matter what they do.
If you have tried everything and you still can’t get a good night’s rest, try Resurge.
Resurge is developed by a nutrition scientist, by the name of John Barban. And upon checking his website, he seems legit.
John graduated with a Master’s in human biology and nutrition from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. He worked as a coach and a trainer in the same University. John also worked with big supplement brands in research and development.
Resurge states it is 100% natural and safe. Developed by an expert in the health and fitness space and it is backed by 60 days money-back guarantee.
Moreover, Resurge is made from a facility in the USA that is FDA approved.
Check out Resurge. They claim that it will help you sleep better at night, stops aging, and helps you lose belly fat.
I don’t know about stopping aging, but I do know I got to sleep better and lost belly fat.
If your body is not responding well to diet and exercise, perhaps you should look at other alternatives.
Read my in-depth honest review about Resurge by clicking here.
Sleep and belly fat: the short version
Most people have no idea about the importance of sleep. The consequence of inadequate sleep should be reiterated:
- Heart problems
- Diabetes
- Reduced lifespan
- Depression
- Belly fat
There’s no doubt in my mind that sleep is also my problem. As I get older, I notice my sleep has reduced to 4 hours.
Perhaps, I was stress with my newborn baby or the piles of work thrown at me. Whatever it was, it doesn’t matter anymore.
Discovering Resurge through research on sleep and belly fat has changed my sleeping habits and life for the better.
And, you can even try it for FREE! Sort of.
They have an excellent return policy, which you can give it a try for 60 days, and if it’s not for you, you can return it, no questions asked.