Dr. Maya Rozman: The Surprising Impact of Sleep Deprivation

We all know that good sleep is crucial for our health, but Dr. Maya Rozman revealed on her 103FM radio show just how much lack of sleep affects our weight and other aspects. In her research segment on the show, Dr. Rozman stated, "Good sleep is important for health, we all know that. Lack of sleep affects our functioning, our ability to think and concentrate, and of course, our physical ability—fatigue reduces the effectiveness of our workouts and sometimes makes us skip them entirely because we feel drained."

She continued to illustrate that the damages of insufficient sleep don't stop there: "Research shows that lack of sleep is also one of the factors for Alzheimer's. During sleep, certain waste materials are cleared from the brain, and if you don't sleep enough, they build up, potentially leading to various issues, one of which appears to be Alzheimer's."

Additionally, she highlighted new research linking poor sleep to weight gain: "A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition investigated why limited sleep leads to gaining weight. It found that among people whose sleep was disrupted or shortened, there was an increase of 385 calories in their daily intake. Not only do they burn fewer calories because they're tired, they also consume more calories without realizing it, and the risk of diseases increases."

As she concludes, sleep is not just a luxury—it's a necessity for both physical and mental health, and it's advisable to pay more attention to it as we age.