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Sleeping more means you get less fat

perhaps....


Longer sleep duration associates with lower adiposity gain in adult short sleepers

This study suggests for the first time that shifting sleep duration from a short to a healthier length is associated with an attenuation of fat mass gain.
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Anonymous said…
This is all fine and dandy, but how exactly do you go from being a short sleeper to a 7-8 hour a night sleeper? I would love to sleep for that long, but I'm lucky to get 5-6 hours a night. I'm paleo, no caffeine, room is blacked out, no lights at all. so how is this done?
June 8, 2011 at 10:50 AM
John Sifferman said…
@Anonymous A lot of factors can contribute to having trouble sleeping. Apart from what you're already doing, I would also include vigorous exercise daily, and don't eat too close to bedtime.

Also, keep artificial lighting to a minimum after sunset (this one helps me a lot), and that includes TV and PC screens. If you must use a PC at night, consider getting the F.lux program. If all of that still isn't working, and you're not on any drugs that would interfere with sleep quality, it's time to consult a doctor to get a referral to a medical specialist.
June 8, 2011 at 3:01 PM
John Sifferman said…
@Chris I've seen other research with similar findings. In particular, lack of sleep and poor sleep quality lead make it more difficult to lose bodyfat. Tom Venuto posted a really nice writeup not to long ago with several references cited:

http://www.burnthefatblog.com/archives/2011/03/sleep-problems-and-major-weight-gain.php
June 8, 2011 at 3:04 PM
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