Research on Lack of Sleep and Weight Gain Are you trying to manage your weight? Well, you might consider sleeping more. Mounting evidence shows that more sleep may be the missing link for many people who are trying to lose weight. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 35% of US adults are sleeping fewer than 7 hours most nights which is defined as short sleep. Short sleep, or lack of quality sleep, has been repeatedly linked to higher body mass index (BMI) and weight gain. An analysis of 20 studies including 300,000 people found a 41% increase in obesity risk among adults who slept fewer than 7 hours a night. Another study showed that short sleep duration was significantly associated with greater waist circumference, which is an indicator of the accumulation of belly fat. (1, 2) Newer research suggests that an extra hour of sleep every night could help sleep deprived people that are overweight consume between 270-500 fewer calories per day without even trying. This translates to nine pounds of weight loss over a year, according to the researchers behind the study. (3) This is significant for people who are trying to manage their weight and believe … Continue reading Why a Lack of Sleep Can Lead to Weight Gain