Weight loss - especially around the waist - can improve the quality of sleep. American researchers found that those who lost more than 5 kg from the waist area and reduced their waist circumference by 15% slept much better than before.
On the other hand, those who are overweight or obese will continue to have trouble sleeping, say researchers from Johns Hopkins University Hospital in the USA.
The study involved 77 volunteers who had type 2 diabetes or were diagnosed with pre-diabetes.
The participants, who were all overweight, were divided into two groups. One followed a specific diet and exercise program, while the other only changed eating habits.
At the beginning and end of the research, they completed questionnaires regarding their sleep problems, such as sleep apnea, feeling tired during the day, restless sleep, excessive sleep or drowsiness, and the use or use of sedatives before bedtime.
The researchers noted the volunteers' body mass index and belly fat at the beginning and end of the study as well.
Volunteers in both groups lost an average of 6,8 kg and the same percentage of abdominal fat.
The researchers concluded that the sleep quality of all participants improved by 20%, without distinguishing between the two groups.
"Sleep apnea is associated with obesity, heart disease, diabetes, feeling tired during the day and high blood pressure. "Good sleep is important for a person's health - physical and mental - as well as for the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system," said Kerry Stewart, a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University Clinic.