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Written By: Agencies | Updated : September 26, 2013 6:13 PM IST
Teenage boys who sleep less have more body fat, but the same isn t true for their female counterparts according to a new study. Researchers in human nutrition at the University of Otago in New Zealand found that teenage boys who sleep less have more body fat but sleep deprivation in girls has no discernible effect on their body fat ratios. The study looked at the sleeping habits and height/weight/fat ratios in 386 boys and 299 girls aged between 15 and 18-years drawn from 11 secondary schools around Otago.
Lead researcher Dr Paula Skidmore said significant results between sleep duration and body composition were found in boys, but not in girls. An average-sized 16-year-old boy weighing 69.5 kg and measuring 176 cm in height, who slept for eight hours a day, would have a waist circumference that is 1.8 cm bigger, and would have 1.6 kg (9 per cent) more body fat, compared to the same average-sized boy who slept 10 hours a day, the study found.
The boys who slept eight hours a day would also have 1.8 kg more lean (bone and muscle) mass compared to the boys who slept ten hours, but that's only a 1.4 per cent increase, compared to the 9 per cent increase seen in body fat, Skidmore said.
Our results suggest that for older teenage boys, making sure that they get adequate sleep may help to maintain a healthier body. It seems to be that, within reason, the more (sleep) the better for boys.
It was unexpected that we did not find the same result in girls, who may actually be more aware of their diet and more in tune with a healthier lifestyle, she said.
The study was published in Nutrition Journal.
Could lack of sleep lead to obesity?
Yes, it is true. We generally overlook disturbed sleeping pattern, relish ourselves with a mug of coffee snug inside a balmy chair and just convince ourselves saying it is normal sometimes. But, don t ignore it if sleep problems are a regular occurrence in your daily life as it may eventually contribute as a factor to your increasing waistline.
Researchers have suggested that major changes in sleep pattern can alter brain activity, sparking cravings for high-calorie food. If a person does not get adequate amount of sleep, this process impacts secretion of the signal hormones ghrelin, which increases appetite, and leptin, which indicates when the body is satiated. These can be trigger excessive and undue eating without the compensating energy outflow and eventually pave way for obesity.
(Read: Want a good night s sleep? Eat these!)
Studies have also shown that poor sleep or irregular sleep patterns can also play havoc on your hormones thereby increasing their levels abnormally which eventually leads to weight gain. It has also been observed that sleep deprived people crave for junk and sugary foods and even suffer dizziness, tiredness and lack of concentration.
Further, people who work in late-night shifts are more prone to erratic sleep and are at a risk of developing diabetes.
Symptoms of sleep disorder:
(Read:Sleep apnoea: Don t laugh away snoring problems!)
How to cope up with poor sleep and check weight gain:
If you are facing any of these symptoms, then pay notice to these warning signs and start looking for options to lose weight and pave your way to a better night s sleep.
For a start, you can try below mentioned options to improve your sleep and keep weight gain at check.
Say no to junk food: Yes, the problem of sleeping disorder starts on an innocent note as whenever you feel sleep deprived, you crave for fatty food like potato chips, pastries, something that uplifts your mood instantly. So, fast foods are a big no-no.
(Read: Tasty recipes for weight loss)
Exercise regularly: According to experts, exercise can help a lot in improving the quality of one s sleep as it speeds up the metabolism of the body and leaves you feeling a lot more energetic which helps in keeping a check on one s weight and also aids in proper sleep. But, avoid exercising before bedtime as it may have an adverse effect.
(Read:10 awesome fitness workouts for the perfect you!)
Take ample amount of sleep: Sleeping for at least 7-8 hours in a day is a must as proper sleep will make one feel energetic, put a check on cravings for high-calorie food and hence save one from being a victim of obesity.
(Read: Beauty sleep it ain t a myth!)
With inputs from ZeeNews
