Weekend lie-in helps you slim: Even just 90 minutes extra in bed helps to beat hunger pangs and stop off fatty food cravings

  • Researchers from University of Chicago studied 10 overweight people
  • Those who spent longer in bed reduced snack cravings by 62 per cent
  • Scientists say key is rapid eye movement sleep which suppresses appetite

By Pat Hagan

Published: 18:57 EST, 13 June 2014 | Updated: 19:53 EST, 13 June 2014


If you treated yourself to a lie-in this morning, pat yourself on the back.

For not only will sleeping in at the weekend help you feel more relaxed, it also makes you slimmer.

Researchers have discovered that extra sleep is the key to beating hunger pangs and staving off cravings for fatty food.

Stay sleeping a little longer: A study in Chicago found an extra 90 minutes in bed could suppress appetite

Stay sleeping a little longer: A study in Chicago found an extra 90 minutes in bed could suppress appetite

Even just 90 minutes extra in bed makes a difference.

A study of overweight young adults found that those who went to bed earlier or stayed in bed for longer experienced a 14 per cent drop in their appetite and a 62 per cent decline in their desire for unhealthy salty or sweet snacks.

 

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The findings suggest simple changes to bedtimes could help to combat the UK’s obesity epidemic. Previous studies have shown that too little sleep can lead to weight problems, partly because it disrupts the hormone balance which helps to keep appetite in check.

But scientists from the University of Chicago wanted to see if a simple adjustment to sleeping patterns could bring about rapid changes in food cravings and eating habits.

They studied ten overweight or obese men and women aged between 21 and 40 who slept an average of six and a half hours or less a night.

For the first week, they were told to carry on with their normal sleeping  patterns, during which time they were quizzed on how hungry they felt and what foods they yearned for.

Crucial: Scientists say the key to suppressing appetite is Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REMS)

Crucial: Scientists say the key to suppressing appetite is Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REMS)

In the second week, they were told to extend their time in bed to between eight and eight and a half hours. Each one was given a wrist monitor to record when they got out of bed and kept a daily log of their sleeping patterns.

The results, published in the journal Appetite, showed that by increasing their time in bed by just 90 minutes, the overweight volunteers drastically reduced their appetite – in particular their desire to scoff unhealthy snacks.

Professor Jim Horne, former head of sleep research at Loughborough University in Leicestershire, said more time in bed appears to curb appetite by directly affecting the brain, not just by preventing people from eating. He said the secret is the amount of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep, or REMS, which is when the brain switches into dream mode.

‘If you sleep longer you have more REM sleep and that has appetite suppressant properties,’ he added.

 

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Just eat healthy food. It's not hard!

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So if I follow the thinking of these "researchers" what weight will I be if I never get out of bed again?

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Why does it not work for those, soo overweight they cannot get out of bed then.

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Because someones feeding them Pp

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Good says me having my saturday lie in, cup of coffee, reading d m app.

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I wouldn't mind getting him in the back of my fiat punto

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You maen if you are asleeo for 90 minutes you cannot feed your face. And you are not in work so you cannot go to Starbucks or Costa and eat some greasy cookie? And all you have in the kitchen are cereal and milk. And you cant be bothered going out. Back to bed. zzzz

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Hahahahahahahahahahaaaaaahhhhhhhaaaa what a load of rubbish, who makes these up

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It makes no difference to me, I eat whatever normal food, and yes I need to lose a bit, diet plan as normal, load of old crap!!

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Back to bed I go.

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Sexy guy!!

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