years of sleepless nights and weight gain

'So, it's tough to get rid of this vicious circle.' Jean-Philippe Chaput is concerned too many people view sleep as a 'waste of time.' (University of Ottawa) And also by not sleeping enough, then you may gain weight,' Chaput said. 'The more weight that you gain, the more likely you have this problem. Heavier people tend to have more tissue surrounding their airways, making them prone to obstruction - and apnea can contribute to weight gain, making the problem even worse. Obesity also increases the risk of sleep apnea, an obstructive sleep disorder that causes people to stop breathing at night. Sleep-deprived people may also be too tired to exercise, which decreases the 'calories burned' side of the weight-change equation. 'It's a reward for the brain to snack and to eat more when we don't sleep enough,' said Chaput. Lack of sleep disrupts the balance of key hormones that control appetite, which is why after a rough night of sleep, people often reach for cookies, candies and chips. People tend to make poor food choices when tired, seeking out energy-dense foods that are high in fat and sugar. 'We need some fuel, so it's just normal for short-duration sleepers to eat more.' When I'm feeling better about myself and exercising and doing all the things that I'm supposed to be doing, I definitely feel like I can sleep better.

We just have more time to go to the fridge, to go to the cookie jar,' says Chaput. 'If we sleep four hours per night, for example, we're awake for 20 hours. It adds up: Research suggests people who sleep less consumed on average 385 more calories every day compared to people who sleep more. Early risers are not necessarily healthier, wealthier or wiserĬhaput says, by sleeping less, we have more time and more opportunities for eating.

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'We know that lack of sleep causes weight gain, in kids in adults,' Chaput said. Jean-Philippe Chaput, an obesity specialist based at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, says there's a strong link between sleep and body weight.

Sleep deprivation and obesityĪt a time when a third of Canadian adults get less than seven hours of sleep each night on average, according to Statistics Canada, our sleep-deprived state spells trouble for our collective weight.ĭr. Poor diet and insufficient exercise are generally blamed as the culprit, but health professionals say Canadians need to pay more attention to an oft-neglected cause of weight gain: lack of sleep. it turns into kind of a vicious cycle.'Ĭanada's obesity rates have doubled since the 1970s. 'Obviously, when I'm tired and I'm having poor sleep, I'm not all that motivated to get up and go to the gym or running. Over the years, he estimates his weight ballooned to 350 pounds, maybe more. That's when he started craving junk food, and found it harder to exercise. On the right, Patton is pictured in 2017. On the left, Patton is pictured with his son Declan in 2013. Ian Patton, public engagement co-ordinator for Obesity Canada, says his weight gain began in university during periods of sleeplessness.

Years of sleepless nights and weight gain