New research suggests that feeling lazy may be linked to consuming too many calories. We all know that excessive snacking can lead to weight gain and even obesity in the long run, but breaking the snacking habit appears to be a problem that affects many people. persons.
If you’re working to establish healthy habits, new research at Ohio State University published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics “on the relationship between sleep patterns, snacking and weight gain” may interest you. eatthis“.
Lack of sleep leads to snacking:
The Ohio State University research team confirmed that failure to get at least seven hours of sleep per night is associated with eating more snacks that are high in carbohydrates, added fats, sugar, and caffeine. .
Study authors Christopher Taylor, professor of medical nutrition in the American College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, said that neglecting sleep leads to eating more snacks, explaining that when we stay up late, we give ourselves more opportunities to eat carelessly. Regardless of sleep habits, he prefers salty or sugary foods and sodas when it’s time to snack, which is another reason why people with poor sleep patterns end up eating more unhealthy calories each day..
It is universally recommended that adults sleep at least seven hours each night in order to maintain optimal health and wellness, and lack of sleep has long been linked to a long list of health issues such as an increased risk of heart disease and obesity.
eating habits
The study analyzed data from nearly 20,000 American adults between the ages of 20 and 60, a health survey led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC). Each participant filled out a series of nutritional surveys that asked about their daily eating and sleeping habits.
Using this data, the research team divided the subjects into different categories based on how much sleep they were getting, the nutritional value of their usual snacks, and the typical time of day when that snack occurred..
At first, most participants (95.5%) said they used to eat at least one snack per day. More than 50% of all snack calories among all participants came from unhealthy foods and drinks such as sodas, energy drinks, chips, biscuits and pastries.
Compared with adults who routinely slept seven or more hours each night, those with less-than-ideal sleep patterns were more likely to snack in the morning. They also consumed more snacks with little or no nutritional value in general.
This finding regarding morning snacking is important because it shows that not all snacking occurs in the evening, and one possible explanation for this is that those who don’t sleep enough need more caloric energy to go in the morning (due to insufficient sleep).
Night snacks:
Snacking at night has special consequences, as many people avoid strenuous workouts or activities, and the end result is that those extra calories go to bed with you, rather than being burned with activity..