Sleep Apnea: Sleep Deprivation and Weight Gain

Getting a good night's sleep is crucial for your mind and body.  But if you suffer from the sleeping disorder sleep apnea and UARS(Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome), getting a full night of good rest can be hard to come by.  It has also been found that there is a scientific link between sleep deprivation and weight gain.

When your body is functioning off little sleep, it can be difficult to make the proper decisions regarding your nutritional intake.  If you are lacking in energy from little sleep, then it only makes sense that your body will crave high-fat, high-calorie foods in order to find an alternative source of energy to fuel the body and brain. 

Studies have shown this correlation time and time again.  When individuals, both male and female, between ages 30 to 45 participated in a sleep study in which half were allowed to sleep up to nine hours a night, while the others were restricted to four or five hours of rest.  Afterwards, they were given an allowance to shop at the grocery store for food.  The individuals who were sleep deprived tended to make purchases of food that had higher sugar, calories, and fat content than the foods purchased by those who slept a full night through.

This could be for two reasons: one, the person who is sleep deprived may crave these sugary, high-fat foods because their bodies are looking for energy and fuel to get through the day, and two, because they are unable to make more controlled decisions regarding their nutritional intake because of the lack of sleep they are experiencing.

If you are dealing with sleep apnea, you are at risk for experiencing weight gain, which is why it is so very important that you are treated for any sleeping disorders that you may suffer from.  Sleep apnea can cause a lot of problems for you and your body, but the risk of gaining weight puts you at risk for a number of other issues including diabetes and heart disease, among other problems that may affect our health and well-being.



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