Getting more sleep can be a helpful way to lose extra pounds, a new study suggests. Experts found that adding an hour or more to sleep at night can reduce about 270 calories from people’s daily diets, equivalent to about three chocolate chip cookies.
Over three years, this can lead to a weight loss of 11.8 pounds, simply by sleeping more, the researchers said. A team from the University of Chicago discovered how sleep interacts with obesity and while conducting a clinical trial with 80 adults.
They found that young, overweight adults, who typically slept less than 6.5 hours a night, were able to add 1.2 hours of extra sleep per night after undergoing counseling to improve their sleep habits, Top Channel reports.
The results showed that getting more sleep reduced the total amount of food by an average of 270 calories per day, with some people consuming 500 calories less.
Dr. Esra Tasali, from the University of Chicago sleep center, said the study was not intended to examine weight loss. “But within two weeks, we have identified evidence that shows a decrease in calorie intake and a negative energy balance, the amount of calories taken in is less than the calories burned,” she said.
“If healthy sleeping habits are maintained for a longer period of time, it would lead to weight loss over time.”
“Many people are trying to find ways to reduce their calories to lose weight, but only by sleeping more, you will be able to reduce it significantly,” said Tasali.
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