When overweight is accentuated, it is essential to take care of yourself and carry out a detailed treatment by the specialist depending on each particular case. This is because obesity is a widespread alteration that must be considered, not only because of the physical appearance that many people are concerned about but also because of the health and risks of being excessively overweight.
Although the most critical factor in gaining weight is the type of food eaten, there are also other aspects to consider that can influence losing or adding a few kilos to the body. The kind of life and customs that are led can directly affect weight. For this reason, many people may have heard that napping after eating can help with weight gain, but is this correct?
If you are one of those who wonder: “Does sleeping after eating make you fat?” we advise you to continue reading the following FastlyHealarticle to obtain all the information about it.
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Does napping make you fat?
If you are one of the people who like to take a short nap after eating, but you need to lose weight, and you don’t know if this habit can be counterproductive to losing a few kilos, you must understand that taking a short nap after eating does not make you fat. But other factors may be involved that help a person gain weight.
The body requires energy to perform activities, taken from the calories obtained from ingested food. For this reason, when a large amount of calories is consumed but a person’s daily activity fails to expend them, the body is forced to store them somehow, thus converting them into fat.
That is why taking a nap does not directly relate to gaining weight but rather what a person does during the rest of the day. However, it is essential to remember that when sleeping, the body allocates energy to other processes and leaves digestion in the background so that food may not be fully digested.
Does sleeping right after dinner make you fat?
It is important to note that lying down to take a short nap after eating is not the same as sleeping for several hours after having the day’s last meal. Going to bed immediately after dinner can not only be an essential factor that makes you fat, but it can cause other alterations, such as heartburn, and even increase the risk of suffering cardiovascular accidents, as detailed in a study by Dr. Kastorini of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ioannina [1], so it is suggested to wait at least an hour between the last meal and going to bed.
As it is essential to sleep the recommended number of hours to feel good and be able to face the next day with strength, that is, between 7 and 8 hours every day, it must be taken into account that it is important to eat dinner a few hours before going to bed. The nutritionist Daniel Escaño Martín [2], in an interview for Atresmedia, assures that insufficient sleep at night also helps to gain weight, so it is essential to sleep the minimum number of hours, 8 hours every day if possible.
Factors to consider when taking a nap after eating
Although napping after eating lunch every day is not fattening in itself, some factors that could be related to this weight gain should be taken into consideration, including:
- That the nap does not last more than 30 minutes.
- Eat foods rich in protein, as they decrease serotonin levels in the body, the hormones that cause sleep. They also increase adrenaline levels helping the body to stay alert.
- Moderate fiber consumption since it is a nutrient that produces slower digestion.
- Avoid foods with high-fat content; they are the least recommended because they slow down digestion and do not allow reasonable use of nutrients.
- Do not consume large amounts of food; this excess can cause an increase in the secretion of gastric juice and other discomforts, such as reflux and heartburn.
- Do not use spices or spices; these are known generators of more gastric acidity.
This article is merely informative; at FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.