How does sleep impact your weight? You may not realize it, but there’s a direct link between how well you slept last night and your appetite today!
It all comes down to circadian rhythm and how a poor sleep cycle directly affects your hunger hormones. Your circadian rhythm not only determines your sleep/wake cycle but also regulates other biological functions, such as body temp, energy levels, and mealtimes.
One of the hormones associated with hunger is leptin. Leptin tells your body when it’s full. Another hunger-related hormone is ghrelin, which is responsible for stimulating appetite.
Not getting enough quality sleep throws these hunger hormones out whack, causing an increase in appetite or lack of one—both lead to poor eating choices.
Sleep also affects your energy level, causing you to be less active and gain weight. Getting enough quality sleep will have the opposite effect; you’ll have more energy and a healthy appetite with clear hunger cues, allowing you to eat more intuitively.
Good shut-eye will also play a role in the types of food you crave. The better rested you feel, the less inclined you are to seek out meals and snacks high in sugar and unhealthy fats.
We have seen great results with weight loss clients with broken sleep patterns with just some small changes in their diet. If you suffer from unfulfilled sleep give us a call to discuss your options!