Search Results for: weight loss

With the new year right in front of us, it’s time to think about what resolutions you could make to improve your life.  Sleeping better is, of course, one of our favorites.  But, that’s rather broad because there are a lot of different reasons why you might not be sleeping the proper amount (seven to…
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Weight loss due to dietary changes can improve sleepiness at any weight, says a study published by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania this month in the journal Sleep. The findings offer new insights into how weight fluctuations impact numerous aspects of sleep independent of body weight. Previous studies…
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Can staying up late make you fat? A growing body of research has suggested that poor sleep quality is linked to an increased risk of obesity by deregulating appetite, which in turn leads to more calorie consumption. But a new study published this week found that the direction of this reaction might actually be flipped:…
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A person’s weight is an important factor in their overall health. You don’t want to be too light, nor do you want to be too heavy, as both can pose a lot of health-related hazards. This is why malnourished people are told to gain weight, while obese people are encouraged to shed some of that…
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New research backs up what many women already know: They’re sleep deprived. Unlike men, a good night’s sleep for women is affected by having children in the house, according to a preliminary study. “I think these findings may bolster those women who say they feel exhausted,” said study author Kelly Sullivan, PhD, of Georgia Southern…
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It’s well known that Americans, on average, don’t get enough sleep.  What people don’t think about is that many American children aren’t getting enough either, and it may end up making them overweight. According to the National Sleep Foundation, about 30-percent of preschoolers do not get enough sleep.  A new study from the University of Colorado…
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Overweight and obese adults who are losing weight with a high-protein diet are more likely to sleep better, according to new research from Purdue University. “Most research looks at the effects of sleep on diet and weight control, and our research flipped that question to ask what are the effects of weight loss and diet…
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Science has known for some years that getting less sleep than your body needs can lead to increased desire for fatty foods and thus weight gain.  New research shows just how little of a sleep deficit is needed. “While previous studies have shown that short sleep duration is associated with obesity and diabetes, we found…
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By Dr. Lisa Shives According to a recent article published in the Chicago Sun Times, failing to get the sleep you need will sabotage your weight-loss efforts, even if you are dieting and exercising properly. The article states that a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that overweight people on a reduced-calorie…
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We say it over and over here at SleepBetter.org, and it’s not a new idea — most people don’t get enough sleep.  Another health issue in America and other countries is the rising percentage of people who are overweight.  Are those two facts linked?  A new study profiled by Reuters and other media sources is…
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Losing weight is an effective treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), but why exactly this is the case has remained unclear. Now, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that improvements in sleep apnea symptoms appear to be linked to the reduction of fat in one unexpected body part — the tongue. Using magnetic…
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It has been established in the last few years, and we’ve reported at length, that lack of sleep can cause obesity as well as depression.  New research indicates that obesity by itself can cause the reverse of sleeplessness — daytime drowsiness. Obesity and depression — not only lack of sleep — are underlying causes for regular…
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We told you back in January about a new implantable device that could replace CPAP treatment for some sleep apnea sufferers.  That device has just taken one more step toward becoming available to the general public, with approval by the FDA. Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is characterized by repeated episodes of upper airway collapse during…
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Researchers say they’ve developed a pacemaker-like device that could cut the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by 70-percent. A study with the device, developed at the University of Pittsburgh and called the Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) therapy, was just published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Standard treatments for OSA include weight loss,…
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It’s fairly obvious that we expend more energy when awake than asleep, but new research that shows just how much extra energy is used during a sleepless night is rather surprising. Research conducted at the University of Colorado found that eight hours of sleep saved roughly 135 calories over eight hours of wakefulness.  That’s equivalent…
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We’ve known for some time that lack of sleep leads us to want to eat more, but new research shows that just one night of sleep loss can increase the desirability of junk foods, even in young men of healthy weight. Building on insights from behavioral economics and endocrinology, researchers in Germany set out to…
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A new study shows that leaving sleep apnea untreated in children can cause significant cognitive and mood difficiencies. The study compared children between 7 and 11 years of age who have moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea to children the same age who slept normally.  It found significant reductions of gray matter – brain cells involved…
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It happens to everyone: You stay up late one night to finish an assignment, and the next day, you’re exhausted. Humans aren’t unique in that; all animals need sleep, and if they don’t get it, they must make it up. The biological term for that pay-the-piper behavior is “sleep homeostasis,” and now, thanks to a…
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It’s been known for years that lack of sleep can help you gain weight, but new research gives us an idea of why.  Apparently, sleep deprivation gives you the munchies. An experiment aimed at explaining why people overeat after a poor night’s sleep suggests that food becomes much more appealing, and that the brain’s own…
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With the vast majority of American schools back in session, it’s time to get back to what’s becoming an annual discussion — school start times.  This year, pediatricians are throwing their weight behind the argument that school for teens needs to start later. In a new policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is recommending…
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There’s no way around it — space flight is stressful.  Between the cramped quarters and the sheer danger of the exercise, it’s enough to give anyone insomnia.  However, according to a recent study, the use of sleep aids both before and during space flight is astronomical. The study, conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston,…
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Still more research is out about the impact that lack of sleep can have on your desire to eat, and therefore your weight.  This time, the research is showing that if you don’t sleep enough, you may be “super sizing” your meals more often. The research, conducted in Sweden and published in the Journal of Clinical…
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We’ve written here at SleepBetter.org many times about how sleep greatly effects your weight and eating habits, each day more and more research is being done to understand this correlation further. The latest news on this subject from the Mayo Clinic, where research reveals that people who are lacking in sleep are doing some serious…
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We’ve written here at SleepBetter.org many times about how sleep greatly effects your weight and eating habits, each day more and more research is being done to understand this correlation further. The latest news on this subject from the Mayo Clinic, where research reveals that people who are lacking in sleep are doing some serious…
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Here’s another story from the “sleep can help your dieting” files… While many are trying to stick to their New Years diet resolutions, researchers have now found that lack of sleep can affect appetite. Based in Sweden, the study found that sleep loss can trigger the part of the brain that controls appetite, which in…
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Most of us know first hand about the annoyance of a snoring roommate or bedmate. The cacophonous rumbling is difficult to sleep through, sometimes even from the next room. It can cause problems in marriages, relationships and even among platonic roommates. In many cases, we like to poke fun at the habit, but it can…
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By Dr. Lisa Shives Although you may think there is little harm in skimping on sleep during the busy periods in your life, there may be severe consequences for missing out on sleep for even just one night. Research shows that failing to get the sleep you need can negatively affect both your mental and…
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If you’re looking for better sleeping habits, there are many tips out there that can help. However, you thing you need to pay close attention to is your sleep and diet. Many magazines, medical journals and websites contain tips for sleeping better, but only a few of those tips focus on sleep and weight. Even…
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