The Link Between Insomnia and Weight Gain – What Scientists Say

We often think that the cause of excess weight is only unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity. However, modern scientific research increasingly points to another hidden culprit: chronic insomnia. If you spend less than 8 hours a day in bed, your body starts fighting against itself. Let's look at what medicine says about how poor sleep translates into excess weight. 

• Ghrelin – the hunger hormone, which signals the brain that it's time to eat.
• Leptin – the satiety hormone, which tells us that we are full. 

⁠A study by University of Chicago scientists showed that when a person is sleep-deprived, their body's ghrelin levels increase by 28%, while leptin levels decrease by 18%. As a result, a sleep-deprived person constantly feels hungry and cannot control themselves.                                                 

2. Craving for "Forbidden" Foods

Insomnia directly affects the part of the brain responsible for reward and pleasure. When you are tired, your brain demands quick energy. That's why, in a sleep-deprived state, we almost never crave salad or an apple. According to scientists, insomnia leads to a strong craving for carbohydrate, sugar, and fat-rich foods (fast food, sweets, baked goods). 

3. Slowed Metabolism and Insulin Resistance

⁠Stanford Medicine Center's materials note that sleep deprivation slows metabolism. Additionally, even just one week of poor sleep can lead to decreased insulin sensitivity.     This means that the body can no longer process sugar properly and stores it directly in fat deposits (especially in the abdominal area).

4. Cortisol – The Stress Hormone

When the body does not rest, it perceives this as a threat and begins to produce an excess of the stress hormone – cortisol. Cortisol, in turn, stimulates appetite and forces the body to "store" every calorie consumed for a rainy day.

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🛑 How to break this vicious cycle?

The formula for weight loss is not only written in the gym and kitchen, its starting point is in the bedroom. If you want to regulate your metabolism, you should first take care of the quality of your sleep.  

Andazi's tips for ideal sleep:

1. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule.
2. Turn off screens 1 hour before bedtime.
3. Create the right orthopedic environment: A poor-quality mattress that causes you to wake up frequently at night or suffer from back pain leads to sleep fragmentation, which is a direct cause of increased cortisol.                                                                                                         Start making changes today: Treat yourself to Andazi's premium collection mattresses, designed with special technologies for your body's complete relaxation and deep, uninterrupted sleep. Healthy sleep is your first step towards ideal shape and health!