By Donna V. Scaglione
As you probably know, we tend to gain more weight as we grow older because our metabolism slows. But in addition to age, too little exercise, and too much food, there are other reasons you may be packing on the pounds. You might be getting too little sleep, your home may be too warm (really), and that new drug you’re taking could have a surprise side effect. Here are some ways we gain weight that you may never have considered.
1. Lack of sleep
A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition further supports existing evidence that inadequate sleep fosters weight gain, not just by increasing hunger, but by slowing the body’s metabolism and speed at which it burns calories.
What’s more, a lack of sleep decreases leptin, a protein that acts as an appetite suppressant and tells the body when it is full. It also inhibits our production of insulin, which regulates blood sugar. In addition to weight gain, sleep deprivation is associated with diabetes, heart disease, and depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours of sleep a night for adults.
