Lack of Sleep Hinders Dieters' Ability to Lose Body Fat

When dieting to lose weight, how much you sleep may be as important as how much you eat. According to a new study being published in Annals of Internal Medicine, lack of sleep may hinder a dieter’s ability to shed excess body fat. Researchers found that dieting adults who slept 8.5 hours a night, lost 56 percent more body fat than those that slept only

5.5 hours. The dieters in the sleep restricted group lost less fat and more lean body mass. They also concluded that even short periods of sleep deprivation can undermine weight loss efforts. In addition to promoting fat retention, the study also showed that lack of sleep reduces energy levels, stimulates hunger and food intake and increases glucose production in the body.