How Sleep & Stress Affect Weight

Sleep and stress levels often get ignored when discussing weight. Both are incredibly important for the optimal function of your body and hormones.

In fact, inadequate sleep is one of the strongest risk factors for obesity. One study showed that short sleep duration raised the risk by 89% in children and 55% in adults.

Poor sleep can also increase hunger and cravings, causing a biochemical tendency for weight gain by disrupting hunger hormones like ghrelin and leptin.

Excessive stress can increase your levels of the hormone cortisol, which is known to increase belly fat accumulation and the risk of chronic, Western diseases like type II diabetes and heart disease.

As a result, it is very important to make time for quality sleep, as well as avoid unnecessary stressors in your life.

In Summary

Poor sleep and excess stress can mess up important metabolic hormones like ghrelin, leptin and cortisol. Getting these hormones under control should reduce appetite and unnatural cravings.