You've probably heard that most Americans are sleep deprived. No wonder, given our hectic schedules and busy lives. Come on, admit it. You're probably yawning just reading this! So what else is new?
Well, if you are a woman, especially if you fall into the 40 to 65 year old age range, you might want to pay close attention.
A new study which was presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference, looked at some 68,000 women, analyzing their answers to questions about sleep and weight over sixteen years.
The bottom line?
Women who get five hours or less of sleep per night were 32% more likely to experience a major weight gain (defined as gaining 33 pounds or more) and 15% more likely to become obese over the study period. Women who got six hours of sleep a night were also at risk for weight gain, facing a 15% liklihood of expriencing a major weight gain.
The researches were surprised to find that a woman's sleep pattern had a much bigger influence on her long term weight than either her eating or exercise habits.
Your next action step? Make getting at least 7 hours plus of sleep a night a priority in your life. Adequate sleep is not a luxury item, but is mandatory in terms of assuring your long term health. Seven hours or more of sleep a night means less chance of heart disease and diabetes as well.
Turns out that grandmother was right when she told you to get your beauty rest!
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