Obesity is Linked to Sleep Disorders and Various Health Conditions: Weight Loss is Solution

Published on March 24 , 2021 | 3 Minutes to Read

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Between work stress, family dynamics, and watching endless TV shows it is easy to understand why many people suffer from chronic sleep deprivation. Coffee is one of the reasons for sleep deprivation too. We know that sleep is important but often underestimate its value.

If you are one of those trying to improve your overall health and lose weight but not getting enough sleep, you may be missing the link that is blocking your weight loss progress.

Researchers at the Hopkins ? recruited 77 overweight volunteers with either predictables or type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, many of them reported sleep problems, such as sleep apnoea, insomnia, daytime fatigue, and restless or interrupted sleep.

Half of those volunteers were put on a weight loss diet with supervised exercise training while the other half did just the diet. After six months, participants in both groups lost 6.8 kilos and reduced their belly fat by 15%. The amazing fact was that sleep quality improved in both groups. A reduction in belly fat can be deduced as an indicator of improved sleep.

How are Weight Loss, Belly Fat and Sleep Inter-Linked?

Excess weight and body fat increase the possibility of developing obstructive sleep apnea – a condition when the airway becomes blocked, either completely or partially during sleep. Such temporary blockages tend to cause frequent awakenings that, in turn, increase the risk for conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, etc. The research found that weight loss had a positive impact on sleep quality improvement. Also, as belly fat and body weight are reduced, blood sugar level also improves. In people with prediabetes or diabetes, weight loss can also reduce restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement disorders.

Exercise also improves sleep quality. The researchers of Oregon State University found people who did physical exercise at least 150 minutes a week slept better and felt more alert during the day than those who didn’t exercise much.

Belly fat deposits around the abdomen, which is called visceral fat and that has links with heart disease, diabetes, dementia, breast and colon cancer, and many other chronic health conditions. So, losing weight seems a logical solution to improve not only sleep but also overall health. But, this is not that simple!

How to Reach Weight Loss Goals

Losing weight requires a comprehensive approach. If you have already tried lifestyle adjustments but yet struggling to lose weight, then weight loss surgery is the right choice for you.

Weight loss surgery procedures are like gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, SIPS/SADI-S bariatric surgery, etc. helpful for faster, effective and long-term solutions to lose weight.

Ready to change your lifestyle and lose the extra weight sustainably? At Perth Surgical & Bariatrics, you can consult the best bariatric surgeon to learn which weight loss option is right for you.