![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Lack of sleep and obesity
This isn't actually very recent news, but I was reminded of it by a friend who linked to an article in the Guardian showing that the link between obesity and lack of exercise isn't as clear cut as often assumed.
I became very aware of the link between lack of sleep and obesity through having two friends who suffered from sleep apnea - that's a nasty condition that keeps waking you up in the night. Obesity makes sleep apnea worse - but - and it's a big but - sleep apnea also makes the obesity worse, setting up a vicious circle that is staggeringly difficult to break out of.
There seems to be a connection with hormones. In a nutshell, if you don't get enough sleep, it affects the hormones that regulate appetite.
So, if you have a weight problem, try going to bed an hour or two earlier. You may find it makes a surprising difference.
There's also a connection between lack of sleep and depression It used to be thought that lack of sleep was a symptom of depression. It now seems likely that it's another of those circles and that lack of sleep can actually help cause depression.
In the case of depression, I suspect it's not only necessary to get more sleep, but to try and find techniques to relax and unwind before going to sleep.
(One of the many reasons I enjoy cross stitch is that it's a very good way of mentally relaxing in the last half hour before going to bed. I'd recommend it to anyone)
I became very aware of the link between lack of sleep and obesity through having two friends who suffered from sleep apnea - that's a nasty condition that keeps waking you up in the night. Obesity makes sleep apnea worse - but - and it's a big but - sleep apnea also makes the obesity worse, setting up a vicious circle that is staggeringly difficult to break out of.
There seems to be a connection with hormones. In a nutshell, if you don't get enough sleep, it affects the hormones that regulate appetite.
So, if you have a weight problem, try going to bed an hour or two earlier. You may find it makes a surprising difference.
There's also a connection between lack of sleep and depression It used to be thought that lack of sleep was a symptom of depression. It now seems likely that it's another of those circles and that lack of sleep can actually help cause depression.
In the case of depression, I suspect it's not only necessary to get more sleep, but to try and find techniques to relax and unwind before going to sleep.
(One of the many reasons I enjoy cross stitch is that it's a very good way of mentally relaxing in the last half hour before going to bed. I'd recommend it to anyone)
no subject
Unless I'm stressed of course, in which case something like Scrubs is no good as my mind wanders and it has to be something with more plot such as Eureka.