Sleep is a vital part of our daily lives, and while we’re resting, our bodies are hard at work. According to a 2021 study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, sleep actually burns some calories too. While we sleep, our bodies are repairing and growing new cells, and the brain is maintaining a level of consciousness to respond to important stimuli.
How Many Calories Do We Burn While Sleeping?
Meet the experts: David Rosen, MD, a sleep medicine doctor and medical director at Complete Sleep, and Susan Savery, MD, an obesity medicine and primary care physician at PlushCare. * Dr. Rosen explains that a person tends to burn on average 40 to 60 calories per hour while sleeping. Savery notes that this number varies based on weight, age, gender, body composition, and overall health.
What’s Our Body Using That Energy For?
As Dr. Rosen puts it, “Even during sleep, your body continues essential functions that require energy: your heart pumps, your lungs breathe, your brain maintains activity, and your cells repair and regenerate.” This is commonly referred to as our basal metabolic rate (BMR).
How To Calculate How Many Calories You Burn While Sleeping
To calculate your BMR, Dr. Savery suggests using the Mifflin-St. Jeor Formula:
* For women: BMR = (4.536 x weight in pounds) + (15.88 x height in in) – (5 x age in years) – 161
* For men: BMR = (4.536 x weight in pounds) + (15.88 x height in inches) – (5 x age in years) + 5
Once you have your BMR, you can calculate how many calories you burn during sleep using the following formula:
(BMR/24) x (number of hours slept) x (0.85)
Factors That Might Affect How Many Calories You Burn In Your Sleep
* Age: As you get older, your BMR naturally slows down, which means that you’ll burn fewer calories while you sleep. * Weight: Your body weight also plays a role in how many calories you need while sleeping. The larger a person’s body is, the more calories their body needs to spend in order to keep them functioning properly. * Body composition: Muscles are a calorie-burning powerhouse. The more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn during sleep.
Tips To Help You Snooze Better
At the end of the day, sleep is important for overall health and well-being. Here are some tips to help improve your sleep hygiene:
* Prioritize a consistent sleep schedule
* Don’t use your phone before bed
* Get regular exercise
* Avoid caffeine and nicotine before bedtime
* Create a relaxing bedtime routine
Conclusion
In conclusion, sleep is not just a myth, but a vital part of our daily lives that actually burns some calories too. By understanding how many calories we burn while sleeping and what affects that number, we can take steps to improve our sleep hygiene and get the restful sleep we need for overall health and well-being.