How Sleep (or Lack of It) Affects Weight Loss

Lack of sleep can leave you feeling foggy in the morning and can have a negative impact on your health. But did you know that lack of sleep can also make it harder to lose weight?
While the body burns more calories while awake than it does when sleeping, that minor effect is counteracted by the behavioral changes that occur when we are sleep deprived.
When sleep deprived, we tend to eat more than we do when well rested. Breakfast is more likely to be skipped, causing us to snack after dinner. Overall appetite is increased, and the body tends to crave higher fat, carbohydrate heavy foods. All of this leads to a higher caloric intake.
Getting enough sleep will not make you lose weight. But when starting on a healthy diet and exercise program, you should take steps to ensure that you stay well rested.