It turns out that getting a good night's sleep is not only important for mood, memory and emotions, physical repair and rest. Sleep seems to play an important role when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight for two reasons; 1. The affect poor sleep has on hormones 2. The affect poor sleep has on the time we have to eat throughout the day and our commitment to healthy lifestyles.

Most people need around about 7.5 to 8 hours sleep. Some people need less and some need more depending on age, health levels and daily activities. Quality sleep is where you are able to get the hours you need whilst getting into the deeper stages of sleep, particularly REM (rapid eye movement).

One of the problems with people who sleep less hours is the fact they have more time to eat. More time to eat means more meals which generally results in more energy coming in. Logic tells us that having more time in the day means more time to be active as well. However this doesn't appear to be the case. In fact it appears to be the opposite – people who get less sleep and/or less quality sleep tend to be more fatigued resulting in increased lethargy and less motivation to exercise and be active.

Poor sleep has also been shown to affect hormones that are linked to appetite and hunger. These hormones (Leptin and Ghrelin) work in a kind of "checks and balances" system to control feelings of hunger and fullness. When you don't get enough sleep, it drives leptin levels down, which means you don't feel as satisfied after you eat. Lack of sleep also causes ghrelin levels to rise, which means your appetite is stimulated, so you want more food. Now most people would say well it's simple lets sort out the hormones and we can cure the obesity epidemic! It's not that simple, there is still a lot medical science doesn't know about the roles of these hormones and there are many other factors involved when it comes to weight gain / weight loss. At the end of the day though, if we can ensure we have adequate, good quality sleep it appears we are giving ourselves an even playing field.

For more information on sleep and healthy weight management go to www.lifestylemedicine.net.au.

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