Snoring is caused by air passing through our mouth, tongue, and airways. This flow of air makes these tissues vibrate, which is what makes a noise.
We’re more likely to snore if we’re overweight, as excess fat means our airways become obstructed. That’s why one of the best things to do if you’re a snorer is to lose weight, but annoyingly snoring itself can also hinder weight loss. Here’s why.
Your quality of sleep is affected
If you snore, you’re probably aware of the impact it can have on your partner’s sleep. But snoring also means your own quality of sleep is impacted.
If your partner isn’t waking you in the night because of your snoring, the noise of your snores are likely to do it. Even if you don’t wake fully, you’ll be in a lighter sleep.
You’ll spend less time in what’s known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep is deep sleep, and not getting enough deep sleep is linked to migraines, low mood, and obesity.
Lack of quality sleep is linked to an increase in so-called ‘hunger hormones’, and a decrease in the hormones responsible for making us feel full. This makes it much more likely that you’ll eat more, which will make it harder to lose weight.
You’ll crave high-fat, high-sugar foods
When we’re sleep deprived, we’re much more likely to want to eat foods high in fat and sugar. That’s our bodies looking for energy, as they’re not getting enough from a good night’s sleep.
Eating foods that are high in sugar, fat and calories too often makes it harder to lose weight, and trying to eat a healthy, balanced diet when your brain is crying out for high-calorie food is really difficult.
