Top New Jersey pulmonary doctor, Federico Cerrone, MD, who specializes in sleep disorders offers these insights about weight loss and sleep, “A lot of patients come to me and they say, “You know, Doc? I’m overweight, I know I’m overweight; I’m trying to lose weight. I diet, I exercise – I can’t lose weight.” And I tell them, “It really may just be related to your sleep problem.” No doubt, obstructive sleep apnea changes your metabolism, it can change your hormones, and make it much more difficult to lose weight. So yes, that could be a sign that you may have a sleep disorder, as well. And maybe you should speak to your doctor about that problem.” Obesity in America is at epidemic levels. Childhood obesity is a national problem. Our healthcare system is inundated with chronic weight related health problems. Many obese Americans wrestle with symptoms of diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and immune disorders and yet how many know the connection between weight loss and sleep?

Over 80% of Americans are overweight and many may not realize that their weight loss problem may be related to how well they sleep. “It’s estimated that 25% of males probably do have obstructive sleep apnea, and 9-10% of females, especially after menopause” Dr. Cerrone adds. “There is a strong relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and weight gain. Not only do you gain weight around your waist, but also you gain weight around your neck. By having that increased pressure on your upper airway, there’s a direct relationship as a cause of obstructive sleep apnea. By losing weight, you also can improve your obstructive sleep apnea.” So while the masses struggle to lose weight and burn fat with fat burners, weight loss programs and weight loss supplements, how many realize the real problem may not be their waistline or willpower but could be a result of sleep deprivation.

A recent study showed that men getting only 5 hours of sleep were twice as likely to gain weight as men getting more sleep. There is a growing body of data that suggests that insufficient sleep may also alter hormones responsible for hunger and fullness. A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has findings that suggest that sleep deprivation effects whether you lose muscle or fat when trying to lose weight. Sleep deprivation also slows down your metabolism making it harder to burn all those extra calories when you do exercise. How much you sleep and the quality of that sleep may actually orchestrate hormonal activity that is tied to your appetite. So sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain and also make weight loss much harder. When you get the right amount of sleep; between seven and nine hours per night; you rest better…giving your immune system building and tissue repair hormones a chance to reenergize your body. Dr. Cerrone adds, “Remember, we’re not just talking about how much you sleep, but also the quality of your sleep. So, what we’re trying to do is improve the quality of your sleep, so you do get more energy, it does help your metabolism; that will help you lose weight.”

There are over 86 different sleep disorders, which can seriously impact overall health and quality of life. Weight gain, increased belly fat, diabetes symptoms and difficulty with weight loss are often associated with these sleep problems. Insomnia and sleep apnea are some of the more common sleep disorders with restless sleep and heavy snoring as some of the more common symptoms. But more often than not, sleep problems go undetected or ignored. Difficulty losing weight may just be the wake-up call needed to find out if you have a sleep problem. So in order to lose those pounds, instead of just heading to a weight loss clinic, you may want to consult with a sleep clinic to see if you have a sleep disorder. Dr. Cerrone adds, “It really can be easy to know if you have a sleep problem. Basically, if you wake up not refreshed in the morning, you may have a sleep issue. Now that could be obstructive sleep apnea, it may be insomnia; it may be some other problem. But if your sleep is not refreshing, you should really think about, “Maybe there’s something going on?”

Besides weight loss, there’s been a lot of links now between poor sleep and your general health. Cerrone offers, “We know that you need good sleep, just in general, to function well, to think well, to execute well. We know it’s linked to your immune system; that if you’re not sleeping well, your immune system can be compromised. We know sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure. There’s no doubt that you’re at more risk if you’re not treated for stroke, irregular heart rhythms, type 2 diabetes; it changes your metabolism. There’s also been links to coronary artery disease. So yes, it can be fatal if it’s not treated.” Sleep deprivation has strong links to signs of diabetes and other health issues related to obesity in America. Getting to a healthy weight or ideal weight may just get easier if we focus on the best weight loss plan around – a good night’s sleep.

To find out right away if you may have a sleep disorder, Dr. Cerrone is providing a free online sleep risk assessment . “We developed this questionnaire, or what we call a risk assessment … and by sitting down at your computer, within a few minutes, you’ll know whether you’re at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea and whether you should be taking the next step in getting treatment for this problem.” This includes a basic BMI or Body Mass Index and some lifestyle answers. Based on these results, you can make a fairly good prediction if you are at risk for a sleep disorder. Dr. Cerrone and the team at Atlantic Health Sleep Centers also provides you with a free personal report if you sign-in right now. As a bonus, you will be able to watch our interview with Dr. Cerrone as he answers the top questions about weight loss and sleep. So, before you take the weight loss supplements or follow the latest weight loss tips or fat burning exercises find out if you may have a sleep problem first.

Naturally, if your risk assessment indicates you may have a sleep problem, it should be followed up with a consultation with a physician who specializes in sleep disorders to get the proper diagnosis and treatment. It’s important that you get help for a sleep disorder right away. Especially, with serious conditions like a sleep apnea treatment, it will not only improve your life, but it might save it.

Dr. Federico Cerrone is the medical director for the Atlantic Health Sleep Centers and a cited as top pulmonary doctor practicing in New Jersey. Atlantic Health Sleep Centers is the largest sleep disorder center in the New Jersey/New York Tri-state area with 24 beds in three locations and conveniently serves the following communities: Allamuchy, Allendale, Andover, Annandale, Avenel, Basking Ridge, Bayonne, Bedminster, Belle Mead, Belleville, Berkeley Heights, Bernardsville, Bloomfield, Bloomingdale, Bogota, Boonton, Bound Brook, Bridgewater, Brookside, Budd Lake, Butler, Caldwell, Califon, Carlstadt, Carteret, Cedar Grove, Cedar Knolls, Changewater, Chatham, Chester, Clark, Clifton, Colonia, Cranford, Denville, Dover, Dunellen, East Hanover, East Orange, East Rutherford, Edison, Elizabeth, Elmwood Park, Essex Fells, Fair Lawn, Fairfield, Fairview, Fanwood, Far Hills, Flagtown, Flanders, Florham Park, Fords, Franklin, Franklin Lakes, Garfield, Garwood, Gillette, Gladstone, Glasser, Glen Ridge, Glen Rock, Great Meadows, Green Village, Greendell, Hackensack, Hackettstown, Haledon, Hamburg, Harrison, Hasbrouck Heights, Haskell, Hawthorne, Hibernia, High Bridge, Highland Park, Hillsborough, Hillside, Ho Ho Kus, Hoboken, Hopatcong, Ironia, Irvington, Iselin, Jersey City, Johnsonburg, Kearny, Keasbey, Kenilworth, Kenvil, Lafayette, Lake Hiawatha, Lake Hopatcong, Landing, Lebanon, Ledgewood, Liberty Corner, Lincoln Park, Linden, Little Falls, Little Ferry, Livingston, Lodi, Long Valley, Lyndhurst, Lyons, Madison, Manville, Maplewood, Martinsville, Maywood, Mendham, Metuchen, Middlesex, Midland Park, Millburn, Millington, Milltown, Mine Hill, Montclair, Montville, Moonachie, Morris Plains, Morristown, Mount Arlington, Mount Freedom, Mount Tabor, Mountain Lakes, Mountainside, Neshanic Station, Netcong, New Brunswick, New Providence, New Vernon, Newark, Newfoundland, Newton, North Arlington, North Bergen, North Brunswick, Nutley, Oak Ridge, Oakland, Ogdensburg, Oldwick, Orange, Paramus, Parlin, Parsippany, Passaic, Paterson, Peapack, Pequannock, Perth Amboy, Picatinny Arsenal, Pine Brook, Piscataway, Plainfield, Pluckemin, Pompton Lakes, Pompton Plains, Port Murray, Port Reading, Pottersville, Rahway, Randolph, Raritan, Readington, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Park, Ridgewood, Ringwood, River Edge, Riverdale, Rochelle Park, Rockaway, Roseland, Roselle, Roselle Park, Rutherford, Saddle Brook, Sayreville, Schooleys Mountain, Scotch Plains, Secaucus, Sewaren, Short Hills, Somerset, Somerville, South Amboy, South Bound Brook, South Hackensack, South Orange, South Plainfield, South River, Sparta, Springfield, Stanhope, Stanton, Stirling, Stockholm, Succasunna, Summit, Teterboro, Three Bridges, Totowa, Towaco, Tranquility, Union, Union City, Vauxhall, Verona, Vienna, Waldwick, Wallington, Wanaque, Warren, Watchung, Wayne, Weehawken, West Milford, West New York, West Orange, Westfield, Wharton, Whippany, Whitehouse, Whitehouse Station, Wood Ridge, Woodbridge, Wyckoff, Zarephath, Staten Island.