Coach identifies 2 factors that harm health and contribute to weight gain
How lack of sleep and stress lead to weight gain (Illustrative photo: Freepik)
Stress often leads to sleep deprivation, which, in turn, increases cravings for unhealthy foods. A trainer has shared tips on improving the body's condition, according to Ukrainian trainer Yurii Popko.
How sleep affects hunger
According to experts, physical activity can help combat stress and improve sleep.
Stress disrupts sleep and alters food preferences, driving cravings for quick carbs (sweets) and fatty foods. These types of foods also stimulate the growth of bad microbes in the gut, which further intensifies cravings for similar products and leads to health issues.
As a result, you gain weight, become irritable, sleep worse, and this cycle repeats, making you gain even more weight and become increasingly irritable.
Among the worst effects of sleep deprivation is appetite alteration, not to mention the increased risk of developing diseases.
Study details
A study involving 27 men and women aged 30 to 45 asked participants to sleep only 4 hours for one night. This was enough to significantly alter hunger and appetite hormone levels.
Interestingly, sleep deprivation affects men and women differently. In men, sleep deprivation increased the hunger hormone ghrelin, but this effect was not observed in women.
Instead, women experienced a decrease in the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which signals satiety to the brain. This is the same hormone targeted by medications like Ozempic.
Men felt hungrier, while women had a reduced sense of fullness. However, the outcome was the same - participants ate more. When presented with a buffet, they predominantly chose sweet and fatty foods rather than vegetables, lean meat, or fish.
Balanced nutrition and physical activity are beneficial for the body. However, it is equally important to prioritize quality sleep and, where possible, minimize stress in every way.
We also wrote about five ways to lose weight once and for all without any diets.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
