In a world where we're bombarded by messages to move more in order to lose more (weight, that is), an intriguing body of research is also showing just the opposite. If you want to reach your ideal weight and stay there...you may also just need a better night's sleep. A recent feature article on WebMD called The Dream Diet provides an outstanding overview of studies suggesting that both the quantity and the quality of your sleep can have a significant impact on your weight.
Research conducted at The University of Illinois showed that sleep loss can lead to substantial increases in appetite and cravings for high-fat/high-carbohydrate foods (a 45% increase, in fact!). Another study conducted at Stanford University found a correlation between less sleep and higher levels of body fat (even more striking was their finding of a "dose effect," in that the less sleep subjects reported getting, the higher their body fat percentage).
It's all just another great reason to log your eight hours each night. You'll benefit in so many ways--with a healthier (and thinner!) body and a healthier (and more alert!) mind. So plump up that pillow and start enjoying your journey toward a not-so-plump body.
