August 27, 2018

Could Being A “Night Owl” Lead to Weight Gain?

Photo by I Yunmai on Unsplash

A new paper, published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology by researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Mahidol University in Thailand, set out to explore whether being a “night owl” (which includes evening activities or going to bed late) could be associated with higher body max index (BMI).

Participants of the study included 2,133 individuals with prediabetes who were 64 years old, on average. Using a questionnaire, the scientists assessed the participants “eveningness” and “morningness” – going to bed late or waking up early, respectively. The scientists also assessed the difference in sleep timing and duration between weekdays and weekends in the participants, called “social jetlag”.

Higher levels of “social jetlag” were found to correlate with a higher BMI. In people older than 60, “eveningness” was associated with a higher BMI, as well. But this was only show in individuals that did not have enough sleep, not in those with “social jetlag”.

Understanding Prediabetes

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. “If you have prediabetes, the cells in your body don’t respond normally to insulin,” reports the CDC. Approximately 84 million American adults – more than 1 out of 3 – have prediabetes. Of those, 90% do not know they have it.

Prediabetes can put you at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other serious health problems. Here are some signs and symptoms to look out for (CDC)-

Being overweight
Being 45 years or older
Having a immediate family member with type 2 diabetes
Being physically active less than three times a week

If you feel you are at risk, visit your doctor for a simple blood sugar test.

Healthy Tips from our Scientific Director, Jerry Hickey, R.Ph

Having trouble losing or maintaining your weight?

“Research shows that taking a protein supplement after a meal helps you feel satiated. This curbing of your appetite decreases craving for food. Imparting a feeling of satiation improves the success of any diet plan. Additionally, staying on a post-meal protein supplement has been shown to help dieters keep the weight off successfully months after dieting is over and in fact they often continue to lose some additional weight.”†

“Your choice of protein can offer additional benefits. Choosing a New Zealand source milk protein isolate or high-quality whey protein may be the best choice if you need to improve the building of bone. These two proteins also supply the ingredients used by your body to create an incredibly protective antioxidant known as glutathione which benefits the entire body. Glutathione is involved with organ protection, detoxification, and immune system health. Choosing a non-genetically modified soybean-derived protein also improves satiety, protects bone health, and may help lower your cholesterol modestly.”†

“CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), dervived from safflower oil, has been using in numerous clinical studies and has been shown to help reduce body fat by decreasing the amount of fat your body stores on your waistline and thighs.”†

Read the full study here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2018.00435/full