If you aren’t getting enough sleep and are trying to lose weight at the same time, you may actually be your worst enemy. Research has shown that a lack of sleep, particularly a lack of deep sleep, can trigger weight gain by disrupting the production of health hormone levels, increasing hunger levels and decreasing the level of growth hormones which enable the body to lose weight and build muscle.

Two main hormones are affected: ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin is responsible for creating that hungry feeling, and when we don’t sleep enough, our bodies release excess amounts of it so no matter how much food we’ve eaten, we still feel hungry. This, combined with the production of low levels of the hormone leptin, which make us crave high calorie foods, force our bodies to go into “starvation mode”.

We all know that losing weight is already a difficult thing to do. Make it easier by sleeping at least 8 hours a day, in a dark and quiet room. While some may not agree that a lack of sleep does contribute to weight gain, getting a good night’s rest is simply part of a healthy lifestyle.

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