Unhealthy sleeping patterns could put a damper on your weight loss goals, according to a new study. Researchers found overweight people who had sleeping issues didn't lose as much weight as those participants who got sufficient sleep.
The study was conducted by a team of experts from various institutions, which was led by researchers from the Human Nutrition Unit of the Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona, Spain. The results of the study are part of an ongoing trial that includes a lifestyle intervention program called PREIMED-Plus. Researchers are studying the effects of a Mediterranean-style diet.
For the study, the team examined medical data of 1,986 participants. Researchers made the following observations of the individuals before they participated in the program:
- They were either obese or overweight
- Had metabolic syndrome
- Suffered from a range of health issues like high blood pressure
For a year, participants followed a weight loss program, which included a low-calorie Mediterranean-style diet, physical activity, as well as behavioural support sessions in order to improve their lifestyle. During this time, the team regularly made note of each participants' body weight, body fat and sleeping patterns.
The results at the end of the study showed those who did not have good sleeping habits lost less weight than those who had a proper sleep pattern. The team also found people who slept for less than six hours had less of a reduction in waist circumference. "[T]he findings of our study highlight the importance of sleep characteristics on weight and adiposity responses to lifestyle intervention programs in elders with metabolic syndrome," the researchers stated.
"The rise in obesity prevalence rates over the past decades parallels an epidemic of sleep disturbances," Jordi Salas-Salvadó, a professor of Nutrition and Bromatology at the Rovira i Virgili University, and colleagues stated. Adding,"In this context, the PREDIMED-Plus, a new ongoing primary cardiovascular prevention trial based [on] an intensive weight-loss lifestyle intervention program, provides an unprecedented opportunity to examine the 12 month changes in weight and adiposity measures between those participants with short or adequate sleep duration and between those with low or high sleep variability."
Being overweight or obese can lead to serious health conditions. As obesity numbers are on the rise experts urge the public to make an effort to maintain a healthy weight. Researchers hope their findings encourage weight loss programs to monitor participants' sleeping patterns as it is a crucial factor when it comes to losing weight.
Previous studies have already found poor sleep can impact memory, blood circulation and even your relationships.
The study's findings were originally published in the International Journal of Obesity.
