Sleep Benefits for Exercise and Nutrition Goals

Here is more support for explaining to your clients why it’s important to get a good night’s sleep regularly and how sleep benefits them. A preliminary study shows that people who reported getting regular, uninterrupted sleep did a better job sticking to exercise and diet plans when trying to lose weight. University of Pittsburgh researchers conducted a 12-month weight loss program for 125 male and female overweight or obese adults with an average age of 50. The program included various lifestyle goals including those related to caloric intake, healthy eating habits and moderate- to-vigorous physical activity.

“Focusing on obtaining good sleep—seven to nine hours at night with a regular wake time along with waking refreshed and being alert throughout the day—may be an important behavior that helps people stick with their physical activity and dietary modification goals,” says Christopher E. Kline, PhD, associate professor in the department of health and human development at the University of Pittsburg. “A previous study of ours reported that better sleep health was associated with a significantly greater loss of body weight and fat among participants in a year-long behavioral weight loss program.”

A notable limitation of the study was that it did not include a sleep health intervention. Although a link was found between better sleep health and increased physical activity, it may also be a product of chance. More research is recommended.

The study on sleep benefits was presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions in March 2023.

See also: Sleep Hygiene Is One Key to Health