Can you sleep yourself thin?

If you’re genetically predisposed to weight gain or obesity, researchers may have just discovered the link you’ve been looking for. While exercise and diet are still the most important factors to attaining and maintaining a healthy weight (discuss that with your doctors, babes!), a new study shows that getting more sleep can lessen the impact genetics has on your weight,

“The longer you sleep, the less important genetics become in determining what you weigh,” says Dr. Nathaniel Watson, co-director of the University of Washington Sleep Disorders Center.  "Does this mean you can sleep yourself thin?" Watson asked. "Probably not. But you can sleep yourself to a point where environmental factors, like diet and activity, are more important in determining your body weight than genetics."

Now that’s a prescription we’ll definitely be trying!

BY BRITTANY TAYLOR ON 1/10/2013 12:00:00 AM

POSTED IN healthy ways to lose weight, sleep, get more sleep, doctor