The effects of sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and TMJ often have an impact on a person’s weight, as they make it harder to lose excess body mass. Lack of sleep leads to a slower metabolism, while also negatively affecting the body’s ability to lose weight. In addition, overfatigue forces the body to cope and look for ways to regain alertness and nutrition by eating more sweets and high-carb snacks.
The huge influx of sugary food and drinks often results in an unhealthy diet and routine that results in excessive weight gain. Read on to learn more about the connection between sleep apnea and weight loss.
How Sleep Apnea Causes Weight Gain
Lack of sleep is linked to decreased leptin, a hormone that suppresses appetite, and increased ghrelin, one that stimulates appetite. This boosts hunger pangs for calorie-dense food. Moreover, patients with OSA or obstructive sleep apnea can be more prone to weight gain due to their lack of sleep, despite having the same body mass index as those who don’t suffer from sleep apnea
Additionally, people who have sleep apnea may also lack the energy necessary to maintain healthy body weight. A common symptom of sleep apnea that results from disrupted and unrefreshing sleep is daytime fatigue. This causes patients to become overly sleepy and engage in less physical activity when awake, which can contribute to further weight gain. The Importance of Sleep for the Mind and Body Both the body and brain need an ample amount of sleep to function properly. Without a good night’s sleep, the stress hormone called “cortisol” is increased and, in turn, causes fat storage. According to research, even without making any dietary changes, being sleep deprived for over two weeks causes people to lose 50% less weight than those who get the right amount of sleep.
Also, lack of sleep can impair the body’s ability to use insulin to process sugars. Unsurprisingly, sleep deprivation will make it harder to shed off extra pounds. If you’re suffering from sleep deprivation and feel like it’s affecting your body weight, it’s best to go get checked immediately. Reach out to the doctors at The Center for TMJ and Sleep Apnea today to learn more about sleep disorder symptoms and causes.