Not getting enough sleep? It may be making you fatter!

archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/65/8/924

In the age of rising obesity among adults and children alike, there are no shortages of weight loss potions, drugs, and exercise regiments to get you to your weight goals. But maybe you should just hit that snooze button a few more times to drop a pant size?

Speaking from the perspective of a constant dieter, I was very interested to see a new study published in this month's Archives of General Psychiatry regarding a simple cause of weight gain - not getting enough shuteye. I've read about the importance of stress in the weight gain cycle (it stimulates the production of fat storing cortisol hormones), but I never thought about the fact that while I am staying up late burning the midnight oil to get a project done at work, that the sleep I am missing would, literally, weigh on me. According to this study it doesn't take much lost sleep to kick off this weight gain mechanism. 1 hour less of total sleep/night was associated with approximately a 2-fold increase in weight gain, 1 hour less of REM sleep was associated with a 3-fold increase in gaining weight, and REM density and activity below the median of the sample group increased the odds of being overweight by 2-fold and 3-fold respectively (meaning it's not just about how much you sleep, but also the quality of your sleep that matters).

They are not exactly sure why this is, but suspect it has something to do with the metabolic cycles and/or the endocrine system. Whatever the reason, the data is conclusive: get more sleep and it will help you to lose more weight.

I have to say, more sleep always sounds good to me, but now that I know that getting into deep dream states for longer periods of time will help keep me trim AND rested, I'm going to skip the extra work tonight and get to bed early.