Can't lose weight? If you've already focused on diet and exercise strategies, consider this surprising culprit..
Sleep!
Yes, you've heard that getting enough sleep is healthy, and you've heard the sleep = healthy weight rumors, but it's time to believe them. Here's why: Researchers at the University of Washington just concluded a major study of how sleep affects our weight, and the findings may make you want to hit the hay early. According to the report, getting enough sleep can keep you slim, even if you have a family history of obesity. The takeaways from the study:
*Go to bed early! People who sleep longer at night have lower BMIs than short sleepers (less than 7 hours a night).
*Sleep seems to "turn off" your genes' role in obesity, which means that if your mom, your grandma, and your great grandma are all obese, you can fight genetics (to some degree) by making sure you're getting plenty of zzzzsss.
*Don't feel lazy about sleeping longer than 8 hours! So what if you're a "long sleeper"--according to this study, sleeping 8 hours or more a night has slim-body benefits.
Good night and Sweet Dreams Squammies!
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