This sleeping habit makes you fat! | BRIGITTE.de

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This sleeping habit makes you fat!

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Those who get enough sleep support weight loss. However, a new study now shows that certain sleeping habits can also make us fat!

Lean in sleep has been leading the way for years: Sufficient sleep not only makes us fit and lively, but also reduces cravings – and thus helps us lose weight. But there is also a sleeping habit that can actually make the opposite happen in women. At least that is the result of a study by National Institutes of Healththat are in the trade magazine Journal of American Medial Association (“JAMA”) has appeared. Accordingly, brightness of any kind disrupts the metabolism when sleeping – which causes women to gain weight.

Get rid of cell phones, bedside lamps and TVs

Are you one of those women who like to nod off while watching TV? Then you should try to avoid that in the future. Light disturbs our sleep-wake rhythm – and indeed every light, from TV up to the bedside lamp. This signals to the body that it is time to be awake and active. That in turn messes up the metabolism and less sleep-inducing melatonin is released. One possible consequence: we have more appetite and also eat more.

For the study, data from nearly 44,000 US women while sleeping was recorded and analyzed. Compared with other test subjects, the women who slept with a television or other light source in the room had a 17 percent chance of weight. And at least eleven pounds, so almost five kilos, over a period of five years. Other possible factors such as diet and exercise were considered in the study. By the way: The researchers suspect that the result would be the same for men as test subjects.

Light off!

The researchers’ simple advice: We should only sleep in the dark if possible. This not only pleases the figure, but also has other health benefits. Earlier studies have shown that a disturbed sleep-wake cycle can also increase the risk of various diseases such as depression, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Brigitte

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