A new Kaiser Permanente study found that people wanting to lose at least 10 pounds would be more likely to reach that goal with lower stress levels and more sleep. The study noted that individuals should sleep more than six hours, but not more than eight hours, a night.
Nearly 500 participants from Kaiser Permanente in Oregon and Washington took part in the study, which measured whether sleep, stress, depression and television viewing were correlated with weight loss.
"This study suggests that when people are trying to lose weight, they should try to get the right amount of sleep and reduce their stress," said lead author Charles Elder, MD, MPH, an investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, OR. "Some people may just need to cut back on their schedules and get to bed earlier. Others may find that exercise can reduce stress and help them sleep. For some people, mind/body techniques such as meditation also might be helpful.
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The study authors caution that their findings may not apply to all groups trying to lose weight. The authors also noted that the participants were highly motivated, and that 90 percent had attended at least some college. Furthermore, sleep and stress reduction were combined with healthy diets and exercise
Still, the study supports previous ones suggesting a connection between weight loss and the right amount of sleep. The study also provides helpful information for corporate wellness programs that are trying to encourage weight loss.
For more information about the study, log on to www.kpchr.org.
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