How is Poor Sleep related to being Overweight and Obese?

It used to be accepted wisdom that a person’s weight was only influenced by their diet and degree of activity. However, we now realize that body weight is more complicated than just a result of behavior. One’s weight is influenced by genetics, social status, communal environment, stress and general health.

Additionally, as sleep deprivation is one of the risk factors for obesity, how well or poorly you sleep might affect weight gain and reduction. The fact that sleep deprivation not only encourages weight gain but that being overweight also makes sleep issues worse, which may exacerbate the metabolic pathways that cause weight gain, should worry obese people.

Lack of Sleep and Weight Gain

Losing sleep causes the body to experience a hormonal imbalance that encourages overeating and weight gain. Your body suffers when you don’t get enough sleep, producing less leptin and ghrelin, which makes you feel hungry. These hormones are responsible for controlling hunger.

Lack of sleep is connected to low growth hormone levels and high cortisol levels, both of which have been linked to obesity. Additionally, a lack of sleep might affect how your body processes food.

Sleep Effects on Overweight People

Obese individuals are more prone than non-obese individuals to experience insomnia or difficulty falling asleep. Even in those who sleep soundly through the night, there is evidence to suggest that obesity is linked to more significant daytime drowsiness and fatigue.

Research shows that obesity may alter metabolism and/or sleep-wake cycles in a way that lowers the quality of your sleep. It’s also likely that being overweight has physical repercussions that affect how well you sleep.

Common Disorders of Overweight Individuals

Numerous medical disorders can interfere with sleep. Some are more prevalent in overweight or obese people. Obesity-related insomnia and other sleep-related issues may be made worse by one or more of the following conditions:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): OSA is a sleep disorder that results in loud snoring and breathing difficulties at night. Obese people have OSA seven times more frequently than ordinary people do.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): GERD is a chronic disorder that manifests as symptoms like heartburn when the stomach’s contents flow into the oesophagus. When lying down, symptoms are frequently worse.
• Depression: Obesity and depression have a mutually reinforcing relationship. In other words, while sadness can cause weight gain, obesity can also cause the symptoms of depression. It is common for depressed people to have it.
• Asthma: An inflammatory disorder, asthma affects the respiratory system. Obesity raises a person’s asthma risk and worsens their symptoms.
• Osteoarthritis: This joint condition is characterized by deteriorated cartilage. Extra weight stresses the joints, and osteoarthritis impacts sleep.

Our medical experts can offer specific advice on how to combat obesity effectively. Connect with us on +91- 62320 12342 to know more.