Report: High Stress Levels Make Losing Weight More Difficult

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - We know that sleep is very important, but according to a new report, when you combine a lack of sleep with stress, it can lead to big problems, especially when it comes to weight loss.

The study, in the International Journal of Obesity, found that if you slept six to eight hours a day and were under stress, you lost less weight than if you slept the same amount and weren't under stress. This is particularly important because it can affect the way we treat obesity in the future.

Obviously, doctors look at things like diet and exercise, but it's clear we have to start looking at lifestyle. We need to include things like the stress a person feels they're facing each day. Whether the stress is real or perceived, it can be the same when it comes to the person.

In addition, we need to be concerned about proper time and getting to sleep, as well as the issues that may prevent people from getting the sleep they need. This could include the environment, their mood, the foods they eat.

Reported by Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio