How Many Calories Do You Burn Sleeping?

Sleeping is a necessary and essential part of our daily routine, and it plays a crucial role in maintaining good physical and mental health. It is during sleep that our bodies repair and regenerate, and our brains process and consolidate memories. But did you know that sleeping also burns calories? In this article, we will explore how many calories are burned while sleeping and how sleeping affects our overall energy expenditure.

Calories Burned While Sleeping

The number of calories burned while sleeping depends on various factors, including your age, weight, and activity level. On average, an adult burns about 0.42 calories per minute while sleeping. This means that a person who weighs 150 pounds (68 kg) will burn about 69 calories in an hour of sleep. Over the course of a night, this person would burn about 518 calories while sleeping.

However, it’s important to note that these are just estimates and may not be accurate for everyone. The actual number of calories burned while sleeping may vary depending on your individual metabolism and other factors such as your diet, exercise routine, and stress levels.

Factors That Affect the Number of Calories Burned While Sleeping

There are several factors that can affect the number of calories burned while sleeping:

Age: As we age, our metabolism tends to slow down, which means we burn fewer calories while sleeping.

Weight: People who weigh more generally burn more calories while sleeping than those who weigh less. This is because a person’s metabolism is related to their body weight, and heavier individuals typically have higher metabolism rates.

Activity level: The more active a person is, the more calories they will burn while sleeping. Physical activity increases the body’s resting metabolic rate, which means that the body continues to burn calories even when we are at rest.

Diet: The type and amount of food we eat can also affect the number of calories burned while sleeping. For example, a diet high in protein may increase the body’s metabolism and calorie burning while sleeping.

Stress levels: High stress levels can increase the body’s production of the hormone cortisol, which can lead to an increase in appetite and a decrease in metabolism. This can ultimately lead to a decrease in the number of calories burned while sleeping.

How Sleeping Affects Overall Energy Expenditure

In addition to the calories burned while sleeping, the amount of sleep we get each night can also affect our overall energy expenditure. Studies have shown that getting enough sleep can help regulate metabolism and maintain a healthy weight.

On the other hand, lack of sleep can lead to an increase in appetite and a decrease in metabolism, which can ultimately lead to weight gain. This is because sleep deprivation can alter the levels of hormones that regulate hunger and fullness, such as ghrelin and leptin.

Furthermore, when we are sleep deprived, we are more likely to make poor food choices and be less active, which can also contribute to weight gain. Therefore, getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining a healthy weight and overall energy expenditure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, sleeping does burn calories, but the amount of calories burned while sleeping is relatively small compared to the calories burned during other activities. The actual number of calories burned while sleeping can vary depending on various factors such as age, weight, activity level, diet, and stress levels.

However, the amount of sleep we get each night can affect our overall energy expenditure and play a role in maintaining a healthy weight. Therefore, it is important to prioritize getting enough sleep as part of a healthy lifestyle.