Q I can't sleep because of night feedings, so I'm always tired and keep craving sweets. Does not sleeping affect weight too?
A Yes — lack of sleep increases appetite and lowers metabolism, greatly hindering postpartum weight loss. Even if perfect sleep is hard, taking care of recovery through short naps, sharing duties, and improving your environment helps with weight loss too.
Detailed Answer
When you're short on sleep, appetite-boosting hormones increase and satiety hormones decrease, making you crave sweet and fatty foods especially. At the same time, stress hormones rise, creating a state where fat easily accumulates in the abdomen. During the night-feeding period, perfect sleep is impossible, but small measures accumulate to help both recovery and weight loss — napping briefly when the baby sleeps, sharing night feedings and care with family, and cutting caffeine and smartphone use before bed.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
At Dongjedang, we see lack of sleep as a major factor hindering the body's recovery and circulation. When sleep is lacking, stagnant things aren't cleared well and metabolism sinks. When you take care of recovery even a little in daily life and revive the body's circulation, the disrupted rhythm settles and weight management becomes much easier.
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