Calories Burned Sleeping: The Nighttime Metabolism

Can you burn calories while you sleep? It’s a burning question on plenty of people’s minds. Whether you’re simply curious or looking at ways to shed calories, we’ll tell you how your metabolism burns calories while you sleep. 

This blog post explores the importance of knowing how many calories you burn while sleeping. We will also discuss the significance of this knowledge for people with sleep problems. We will also provide insight into optimizing your sleep and calorie expenditure to achieve your desired goals.

How many calories do you burn while sleeping?

We don’t need studies to convince us that the amount of calories burned during sleep can depend on various factors, such as age, body weight, and activity level. That’s just common sense. But the amount of calories burned while sleeping? That’s where some help from researchers can come in.

Studies have shown that sleeping can burn a significant amount of calories. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, sleeping can burn up to 15% of the body's total energy expenditure, or the amount of energy used in 24 hours.

Another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that people burn around 5% of their daily energy expenditure while sleeping. 

Calories burned during sleep can range from 35 calories per hour for adults to up to 85 calories per hour for children. The golden rule is that the amount of calories burned during sleep can vary from person to person, depending on their lifestyle and activity level.

The best way to burn more calories while sleeping is to get more active throughout the day and give your body adequate exercise. Engaging in activities that increase your body temperature can also help to burn more calories while sleeping.

A few factors can cause you to burn fewer calories while sleeping. These include age, body weight, and activity level. Certain medications or illnesses can also cause you to burn fewer calories while sleeping.

Approximate calorie burn based on various factors

Let’s take a look at the different factors influencing how many calories you’ll burn while you sleep:

Body weight and composition

Your body weight and composition can influence the amount of calories you burn while sleeping. Generally, the heavier a person is, the more calories they will burn while sleeping. Similarly, muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue, so those with a higher muscle-to-fat ratio may burn more calories while sleeping. 

Sleep duration

The amount of calories you burn while sleeping is also related to how much you sleep. Generally, the more time you sleep, the more calories you burn. It is estimated that a person weighing 150 pounds can burn up to 85 calories per hour during sleep, as if we needed another reason to love our sleep even more!

Sleep quality and disturbances

Sleep disturbances such as frequent wake-ups or restless sleep can also impact calorie burn during sleep. When your body constantly transitions between different sleep states, it uses more energy than in a deep sleep, which can reduce the amount of calories burned while sleeping. 

What is calorie expenditure?

Calorie expenditure is the amount of energy the body uses during physical activity or while at rest. Energy expenditure is the total energy the body uses, including calorie expenditure and calorie consumption. The relationship between calorie expenditure and energy expenditure is that the body uses the more energy, the more calories are burned. 

Factors that influence calorie expenditure

Several factors can influence the amount of calories burned while sleeping:

1. Resting metabolic rate (RMR)

Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) is a measure of the amount of energy used by the body at rest. It is also the main factor in determining how many calories you burn while sleeping. Your body weight, composition, and age largely determine RMR. 

2. Age, weight, and body composition

A person's age can also influence the amount of calories burned while sleeping. The older a person is, the less energy they need and the fewer calories they will burn while sleeping. 

Your body weight can also influence the amount of calories burned while sleeping. The heavier a person is, the more calories they will burn while sleeping. 

Body composition, or the ratio of muscle tissue to fat tissue, can also influence the amount of calories burned while sleeping. Those with a higher muscle-to-fat ratio will burn more calories while sleeping. 

Physical activity level

If you’re looking for motivation to get active, this is it. Physical activity plays an important role in overall energy expenditure. It can help to burn calories and improve general health and well-being. The more active you are during the day, the more likely your calories burnt will be higher when you sleep. 

Understanding sleep and its impact on calorie burning

Sleep is an important part of the energy expenditure equation. The amount of calories burned during sleep depends on the duration of sleep, the quality of sleep, and the sleep stage that is experienced. During deep sleep, the body is at rest and burns fewer calories than during lighter sleep stages.

Sleep stages and their significance

The different sleep stages are vital for restorative sleep. These stages include REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the lightest stage of sleep, and deep sleep, the deepest stage of sleep. 

Deep sleep is the most restorative and is essential for good physical and mental health. During deep sleep, the body is in a restorative state and burns fewer calories than during lighter sleep stages. 

During the light sleep stages (REM and Stage 2), the body is in a lighter state of rest and may burn more calories than during deep sleep. 

As a result, the amount of calories burned while sleeping may vary depending on the duration and quality of sleep.

Energy expenditure during sleep

Your basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the minimum amount of energy your body needs to function while at rest. This includes the energy needed to keep your cells functioning, breathing, and regulating body temperature. During sleep, your BMR is lower but accounts for up to 60% of your daily calorie burn.

Factors affecting calorie burn during sleep

Sleep quality is just as important as the number of hours you get. Poor sleep quality can negatively impact your BMR, as well as impacting other hormones and processes. Getting good quality sleep is essential for maintaining a healthy weight and managing your BMR.

Body Temperature

Your body temperature naturally drops during sleep, which can also affect your BMR as your body works to maintain a constant temperature. If you are too hot or too cold, your body will use more energy to regulate your temperature, resulting in a higher BMR during sleep.

Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes during sleep can also affect your BMR. Hormones like cortisol, testosterone, and growth hormone can all influence how many calories your body burns. Getting enough sleep helps keep these hormones in balance and helps to regulate your daily calorie burn.

Impact of sleep on overall calorie balance

Sleep is a crucial factor in determining your overall calorie balance. Have you had to drag yourself through a day after a sleepless night? Not only do you feel unmotivated, you’ll often have an insatiable appetite and cravings for unhealthy foods. 

The amount of calories you burn while sleeping can vary based on your weight, activity, and sleep duration. Sleep quality is also important, as it can influence the hormones that control appetite and metabolism. 

Relationship between sleep and weight management

Studies have shown that people who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to gain weight and have an increased risk of obesity. Poor sleep can also lead to decreased calorie burning and decreased physical activity, both of which can contribute to weight gain.

Sleep deprivation and its effects on calorie intake and metabolism

Sleep deprivation can lead to an increase in hunger and cravings for unhealthy foods. This is because sleep deprivation can alter hormones that control appetite and metabolism. 

The hormone ghrelin, which increases appetite, is increased while the hormone leptin, which decreases appetite, is decreased. As a result, people who are sleep deprived are more likely to eat more and gain weight.

Sleep deprivation can also influence food choices. Studies have shown that people who are sleep deprived are more likely to make poor food choices and reach for unhealthy snacks and processed foods.

As if an insatiable craving for junk wasn’t bad enough, poor sleep can decrease the body’s ability to burn calories and use energy efficiently, leading to weight gain.

Importance of prioritizing good quality sleep for maintaining a healthy weight

Getting enough quality sleep is vital for overall health and well-being.

Quality sleep can help you maintain a healthy weight by helping to regulate hormones that control appetite and metabolism. It can help you make better food choices and increase your energy levels so that you can be more physically active and mentally alert.

FAQs

How many calories do you burn while sleeping for 8 hours?

The amount of calories burned while sleeping for 8 hours will vary depending on age, sex, activity level, and other factors. Generally speaking, an average adult will burn around 30-60 calories per hour while sleeping.

How many calories do you burn sleeping for 7 hours?

The exact amount of calories burned while sleeping for 7 hours will vary depending on your age, sex, activity level, and other factors. 

How many calories do you burn while you sleep?

Studies have found that the average adult will burn around 30-60 calories per hour while sleeping. But remember, this can differ according to different people and their lifestyles.

The Answer to 'How Many Calories Do You Burn Sleeping' Is In Your Hands

An average person is estimated to burn roughly 30-60 calories per hour while sleeping. This number varies depending on your metabolism, body size, and other factors. To maximize the number of calories you burn while sleeping, Sleep Stick offers a natural and easy solution to support deeper sleep and help you burn more calories while you sleep.

Sleep Stick is a natural sleep aid formulated to help you fall asleep faster and maximize the number of calories you burn while sleeping. Try Sleep Stick and experience deeper, more restorative sleep today.