Sleep

The last part of this message on fitness is sleep, another overlooked part of staying healthy. You would think that spending too much time doing something sedentary like sleeping would lead to weight gain. Ironically the opposite is true. Too little sleep can cause sleep deprivation which interferes with fat metabolism and causes increased appetite. Too little sleep also is linked with increased risk of diabetes and heart disease, inability to pay attention, and short term memory lapses. Daytime drowsiness plays a major role in many serious accidents.

How much sleep one needs varies from one individual to another, although the National Sleep Foundation makes suggestions. Children aged 5-10 need 10-11 hours; teens aged 10-17 need 8.5-9 hours; and most adults need 7-9 hours each night. If you’re an adult and trying to get by on less than seven hours and notice yourself tired throughout the day, try getting more sleep until you find the ideal amount for you.

In 1960 the average American slept eight and a half hours each night. By 1995 that number dropped an hour. And in 2011 the average American spends less than seven hours a night in the sack. More than 33% report daytime drowsiness. As you can see, the trend, a reflection of our busy lives becoming busier, means the average American gets less sleep each year. The National Sleep Foundation’s website offers research on the dangers of too little and too much sleep.

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