VIDEO from Synaptic Digital and American College of Physicians: When Dieting to Lose Weight, How Much You Sleep May be as Important as How Much You Eat

October 8, 2010

New Study Shows Lack of Sleep Makes it Harder to Lose Body Fat

Dreaming of losing a few pounds? A new study reveals that how much you sleep, may be as important as how much you eat. According to the study being published in the October 5 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, lack of sleep may hinder a dieter's ability to shed excess body fat.

See video from American College of Physicians at: http://inr.synapticdigital.com/Annals_37579

The study highlights the importance of adequate sleep for maintenance of fat-free body mass when dieting to lose weight. Researchers found that dieting adults who slept 8.5 hours a night, lost 56 percent more body fat than those that slept only 5.5 hours. The dieters in the sleep restricted group lost less fat and more lean body mass. They also concluded that even short periods of sleep deprivation can undermine weight loss efforts.

In addition to promoting fat retention, the study also showed that lack of sleep reduces energy levels, stimulates hunger and food intake and increases glucose production in the body.

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SOURCE Synaptic Digital; American College of Physicians