Exercise Trumps Diet as a Sleep Aid
For Those Who Are Obese, Exercise May Offer More Sleep Relief Than Diet
If you’re obese and having trouble sleeping, dieting alone is not the solution.
That’s the opinion of Richard Simon, MD, medical director of the sleep disorders center at St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Wash. Simon says doctors should shift their focus, so that getting patients to exercise is their primary goal – and diet can be secondary. He urges his obese clients to walk for 20 to 30 minutes a day and work up to 2 to 3 hours a day if they can.
Twenty minutes may be enough to help your heart, but more is needed to spur weight loss, he says.
After his patients establish a walking routine, he advises them to focus on their diet.
If you’re not yet physically fit, Simon says the best method is to exercise early in the day – any later than that, and you may defeat the purpose of your efforts.
That’s because studies show patients who aren’t fit and exercise within 6 hours of going to bed may disrupt their sleep, due to uncomfortable aches and pains.
There is lots of data on how exercise improves your quality of life by helping you feel better and helping you get more accomplished in the daylight hours, Simon said. There is much less information so far on how dieting improves quality of life.
To find out if your diet or exercise habits could be disrupting your sleep, check out your own free, customized Sleep Book now.
Story Link: [NSF: Ask the Expert]
