Women everywhere struggle with weight issues all the time. With the holidays approaching that means hearty meals and potential stress with family matters. However, a new study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion shows that women who keep to a consistent sleep plan will be able to keep a healthier weight. It has been said before that sleep loss has a negative impact on weight management, but with the help from Brigham Young University researchers we may be able to put weight issues to bed.

Over 300 women (17-26 years old) from two major universities in the United States took part in the study. After several weeks of observation, research determined that those with consistent sleeping habits had healthier weight.

Getting a Well Balanced Sleep

In the beginning the participants were assessed for body composition and kept activity trackers to record daily movement at all hours. This translated the information needed for researchers to predict and survey sleep patterns throughout the course of the week. Researchers concluded that:

• Consistent bedtime and waking hours related to lower body fat

• Less than 6.5 hours or more than 8.5 hours of sleep a night associates with higher body fat

• Participants with varied sleep and waking hours by 90 minutes had more body fat

• Quality sleep is important to maintain body composition

Keeping Your Internal Clock Set to the Right Hour

Researchers were surprised most from the participants who had more than 90 minutes of variation in sleep and waking hours. These females were associated with higher body fat than those with fewer than 60 minutes of varied sleep patterns.

In terms of hours of sleep, the range between 8 and 8.5 hours was the targeted time for participants who had kept to this cycle on most nights. These women had the lowest percentage of body fat overall.

Staying to the body’s internal clock and not throwing it off balance will better the chances of allowing the body to regulate its weight.

Battle of the Bulge Can Be Won

Women who struggle with their weight day in and day out often find themselves spending countless hours at the gym and resorting to strict diet plans. This is the first step to a healthier weight level, but many women possess layers of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise. This is where liposuction can be effective. Removing unwanted fat cells from the bulging areas of the body is the best solution to shrink large areas of the body. Throw in a healthy sleep pattern and women will be able to maintain a slimmer body contour and healthier weight.

Don’t spend your nights tossing and turning about burning calories and losing weight. Get in the habit of going to sleep and waking up in a consistent pattern that stays is within 8 or 8.5 hours of sleep. Maintaining a healthier weight after liposuction will be easier to maintain when keeping to a healthy diet and exercise plan, as well as getting a good night’s sleep.