Not Enough Sleep = Overweight??
It’s always interesting to see what type of information is floating around when it comes to weight loss. The good news is there’s never a shortage of information. The bad news is…there is never a shortage of information. Some of it is good and some of it is "interesting".
Great American Newscast
A few days ago I was watching the local news when a headline grabbed my attention. A gorgeous, trim newscaster stared into the camera with a concerned look on her face and said "Is a lack of sleep making you fat? Find out when we come back from our commercial break".
The "news" that followed the commercial break was disappointing. A local Atlanta study indicated a strong correlation between a lack of sleep and being overweight. I wasted the next 10 minutes of my life listening to how sleep deprivation leads to obesity. Sleep deprived people just can’t eat right. What?
I listened and listened for any information about diet, exercise, portion control, or something even remotely related to the process of losing weight. That information never came.
When it was all said and done the good people watching the program were left with the wrong impression.
Sleep more. Continue doing the same things you’ve always done. Lose Weight.
Not all Correlations Correlate
My issue with this editorial piece is simple. A "correlation" between two disjointed activities doesn’t make them any less disjointed. If you search hard enough I’m sure you can find a correlation between just about anything. Let’s think aloud together:
- People who tie their right shoe first are 40% more likely to become President than their counterparts
- People who floss twice daily eat more food due to the decreased force of gravity on their mouths
- People who throw rocks into the ocean for just 10 short minutes a day build better sand castles than 95% of people who don’t bother throwing rocks into the ocean
- People who chase dogs in a circle, in a snowstorm, in Arizona, in July, have decreased exposure to HPV, hang nails, and that night time, sniffling, sneezing,aching, fever condition you encounter when you don’t take your Nyquil
These “correlations” carry about the same weight as the one between no sleep and a big belly. I know we have to put something on TV. Let’s at least make it accurate.
Conclusion
The science of being overweight is simple. I know because I used to be a master. It goes something like this. If you eat a lot and sit still you’ll gain weight. If you control your portions, exercise, and push yourself you just might shed a 1 lb, 2 lbs, or 100. That’s the only correlation that matters in this game.
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December 6, 2007 at 6:14 am
LMAO, you know damned well what they meant to say. That just wasn’t sensational enough so it came out as "sleep and you’ll lose some weight."
Which well, you might lose a few ounces a month if you sleep properly just because 1) no need for coffee 2) one morning you might realize "Hey, I don’t have to rush to work. Let me go buy some fruits, vegetables, and maybe eat some damned oatmeal as opposed to this mcdonalds three heart attacks with a side of diabetes mcgriddle" (those things are actually good). There’s also a study that says not enough sleep leads to increased tv watching. I don’t know where I got that from other then when I under sleep, I catch myself going cataonic in front of the box more often than not.
By the way, that statement about throwing rocks and sand castles is quite accurate. My cousin who threw rocks in the ocean always built better sand castles than I did.
December 6, 2007 at 7:53 am
Just reminds me of things I heard growing up…"Don’t believe everything you hear (or read)." and "If it’s too good to be true..it probably is." I used to be one of those people who looked for a ‘magic’ solution to good health and weight loss, nothing magical worked, so finally one realizes that what is worth having is worth working for and finds out the real facts.
December 6, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Mike
I don’t know what they "meant to say" I know what they said. What they said is a stretch no matter what numbers are behind it. The logic is way too loose.
Ladybug
You’re absolutely right. I’m glad you’re starting to see through the nonsense.