28/03/2026
๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ด๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
You might assume poor sleep leads to weight gain because you're too tired to exercise or you reach for extra snacks.
And yes, that happens.
But what's going on ๐ช๐ฏ๐ด๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ your body is even more significant.
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ'๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐๐บ:
๐ค When you're not sleeping well, your cortisol stays elevated, especially at night when it should be dropping. High cortisol tells your body to store fat, particularly around your middle.
๐ค Your insulin sensitivity drops. Even if you're eating the same foods, your body struggles to process sugar properly, leading to blood sugar swings and more fat storage.
๐ค Your hunger hormones shift. Leptin (which tells you you're full) drops, while ghrelin (which makes you hungry) rises. Suddenly you're craving carbs and sugar. This is not a willpower issue, it's hormonal.
๐คAnd yes, you move less without realising it. When you're exhausted, you naturally conserve energy throughout the day. Fewer steps, more sitting.
And on top of this, in perimenopause, this is amplified.
Your nervous system is already more sensitive. Sleep disruption hits harder and your body holds onto weight more stubbornly.
If you're struggling with weight that won't budge despite eating well, poor sleep might be playing a role there.
