Sleep: Performance and Obesity

Sleep is a biological necessity; it is restorative and helps alight our circadian rhythms.  Sleep deprivation erodes well-being and has detrimental effects on our health.  80% of teens report getting fewer than the recommended 9 hours of sleep, and nearly 30% of adults report getting fewer than 6 hours of sleep per day.
Sleep deprivation and obesity are concurrent problems; sleep is an independent risk factor for obesity.  When people are tired, grehlin - a hormone that makes us feel hungry - becomes more active; we become hungrier and can easily overeat.  Sleep deprivation may contribute to mid-life weight gain.
Sleep deprivation is also associated with Type II Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and High Blood Pressure.  When circadian rhythms are disrupted, athletic performance can suffer, causing reduced motivation and undue fatigue.
Extending sleep can enhance performance.  This is true for athletes and for those of us who spend most of our time in the office.

Taken from SCAN's Pulse Summer 2012, Vol. 31, No. 3

Fat Burning

The sports supplement industry has keyed into athletes' desire to burn fat by creating products with fat-burning claims.  Unfortunately, non of the products are effective enough to create a meaningful loss of body fat.
Can we train our bodies to burn more fat?  Yes - particularly by exercising at low to moderate intensity.  Lawrence Spriet, PhD, of the University of Guelph in Onterio, noted that high-intensity intermittent exercise can also increase our capacity for fat use.  Training increases mitochondrial volume and the ability to transport and store fat in muscle cells.  Eating a high-fat diet to enhance the opportunity for burning fat does not enhance athletic performance.


Info taken from SCAN's Pulse Summer 2012 Vol. 31 # 3