Institut für Psychologische Beratung, Business Coaching u. Training

05/12/2025

Getting enough sleep is just as crucial for fat loss as diet and exercise.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that participants who slept only 5.5 hours per night lost 55% less fat and 60% more muscle compared to those who slept 8.5 hours—despite following identical calorie-restricted diets.

The findings highlight how inadequate sleep can sabotage weight loss efforts by altering how the body partitions energy, prioritizing muscle breakdown and fat retention.

The mechanism behind this lies in sleep’s effect on critical metabolic hormones. Short sleep increases ghrelin, which stimulates hunger, and lowers leptin, which signals fullness—making it harder to resist food even when it’s not needed. It also raises cortisol levels, prompting the body to conserve energy and store fat. Simultaneously, sleep deprivation leads to insulin resistance, encouraging the body to store more calories as fat rather than using them for energy or muscle repair. In essence, poor sleep doesn’t just make you tired—it rewires your metabolism to work against your health goals.

Source: Nedeltcheva, A.V., Kilkus, J.M., Imperial, J., & Penev, P.D. (2010). Sleep curtailment is accompanied by increased intake of calories from snacks. Annals of Internal Medicine, 153(7), 435–441.

04/12/2025

We already know our brains change as we age, but new research shows these shifts aren’t linear.

Scientists have identified four key turning points that reveal how our brain’s communication network evolves across a lifetime, challenging the idea that adolescence wraps up in our early twenties and offering a new roadmap for how our brains change.

Find out what these age milestones really mean for your brain: https://on.natgeo.com/4ovT0Jk

04/12/2025

Mental Illness Can Also Bring Strengths

Mental illness is widely associated with limitation, but a growing body of research suggests it may also be associated with unexpected strengths.

Studies reveal higher creativity, emotional insight, cooperation, and resilience in people with certain mood and psychotic conditions.

Even after severe depression, some individuals go on to show unusually strong long-term psychological well-being.

Researchers argue that mental health care should preserve these strengths while treating symptoms.

https://neurosciencenews.com/mental-illness-strenghts-30011/

14/11/2025

No Evidence the Gut Microbiome Causes Autism

New analysis argues there is no reliable scientific evidence that the gut microbiome causes autism, despite years of speculation and media attention.

The authors reviewed observational studies, mouse models, and clinical trials, concluding that each contains major flaws such as small sample sizes, poor statistical methods, and inconsistent results.

They emphasize that autism is strongly genetic, and that any microbiome differences are more likely driven by factors like diet rather than a causal mechanism.

The team calls for shifting research priorities toward rigorous genetics-focused work instead of continuing down a dead-end hypothesis.

07/11/2025

Women are redefining how we understand menopause. Beyond the familiar hot flashes and night sweats, they’re speaking more openly about a broader range of symptoms, and researchers are examining how these changes unfold in the brain. Although some studies suggest hormone therapy could help ease cognitive symptoms, the evidence remains limited.

Learn more about how menopause transforms the brain and what scientists are uncovering: https://on.natgeo.com/4hHSA0K

30/10/2025

29/10/2025

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