In the United States, sleeping in the nude isn’t all that common. Only about 8 percent of people sleep naked. But, you might be surprised to learn that there are many health benefits to sleeping nude. Perhaps that’s why Marilyn Monroe was such a fan of sleeping in the buff.
Besides keeping you cool at night, going to bed naked can help you lose weight, boost your metabolism, and more. Research indicates that going to bed in the buff really can lead to weight loss. Ready to ditch the flannel pajamas? Here are the weight loss benefits of sleeping in the nude.
Can Sleeping Naked Help With Weight Loss?
Yes, sleeping in the nude can help with weight loss. Sleeping naked can improve overall sleep quality, which promotes weight loss. Many studies have shown that when you get more and better quality sleep, it aids weight loss.
Those who sleep better lose more weight when exercising and dieting. In one study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, researchers looked at the impact of sleep on those following an exercise and diet plan. Overweight and obese adults who slept better lost more weight compared to those who slept poorly.
How Sleeping Naked Leads to Weight Loss
Sleeping naked does not directly cause you to lose weight. However, sleeping in the buff may improve your overall sleep quality, which can help you shed those pounds. Here’s how.
Lowers Body Temperature
When you sleep naked, it lowers your body temperature. Sleeping at lower temperatures improves the quality of sleep. When your body temperature drops, it triggers the release of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. When you sleep better, it’s easier to lose weight.
Increases Comfort
Ever wake up in the middle of the night because your pajamas are tangled up? Or perhaps you have on wool pajamas and wake up in a sweat.
When you sleep in the buff, it can increase comfort, helping you sleep through the night. A 2016 study found that participants who wore clothing to sleep had increased nighttime awakenings, compared to those who wore no clothing.
Snoozing more throughout the night may help facilitate weight loss. In fact, getting less than 6-7 hours of sleep a night has been linked with a higher body mass index (BMI).
Balances Hunger Hormones
When you sleep well, it helps to balance certain hormones in your body associated with hunger and weight.
When your body temperature is lower, it prohibits the release of cortisol, which is the stress hormone. People with higher cortisol levels are more likely to gain weight. Lower levels of cortisol are associated with fewer food cravings, especially for sugary foods. Fewer food cravings can make it easier to lose weight.
When you sleep well, it reduces ghrelin levels in the body. Ghrelin stimulates the appetite and is known as “the hunger hormone.” When levels of this hormone are lower, you are likely to be less hungry. This can help you lose weight.
How Sleeping in the Nude Affects Your Metabolism
Sleeping naked also speeds up the body’s metabolism, which can also help you lose weight. Shedding clothes when you sleep prompts your body to create more brown fat in order to keep you warm. Brown fat is beneficial — it speeds up your metabolism by burning stored white fat and blood sugar. Higher levels of brown fat are associated with a decreased risk of conditions like diabetes and obesity.
A study in the journal Diabetes examined the impact of sleeping in a cooler room, lowered from 74 degrees Fahrenheit to 66 degrees Fahrenheit, on brown fat. Participants in the study doubled their (metabolism-boosting) brown fat after two months of cooler sleeping temperatures. They also burned more calories throughout the day.
Also, when you don’t sleep well, it interferes with the body’s metabolism, which can lead to weight gain. Sleeping without clothing can lead to better sleep, which may positively affect your metabolism.
More Benefits of Sleeping Sans Clothing
Let’s explore some of the other benefits of sleeping sans pajamas. Some of these, like improved self-esteem, may also help with weight loss. These benefits may just have you slipping out of your PJs tonight.
Improved Self-Esteem
Research indicates that spending time in your birthday suit can improve your self-image and body image. While you might think that sleeping naked would make you more self-conscious of your body, it’s actually the opposite. Sleeping in the nude helps you have less anxiety about how your body looks. And, feeling more confident about your body can make it easier to stick to weight-loss goals.
Increased Emotional Intimacy
Sleeping in the buff may improve your relationship with your partner. One survey found that 57 percent of couples who slept sans clothing were happy in their relationship compared to just 48 percent of couples who wore nightclothes to bed.
Direct skin-to-skin contact between partners releases the hormone oxytocin (“The Love Hormone”). This chemical is associated with bonding and trust. It also helps you feel relaxed, which can lead to better sleep.
Boost In Reproductive and Genital Health
For women, sleeping naked may help to cut down on yeast infections. Wearing tight or synthetic underwear to bed can cause Candida (yeast) to flourish. Adequate air circulation helps reduce yeast.
In men, sleeping naked can help to protect sperm. In one study, men who went commando while they slept had 25 percent less damaged DNA in their sperm compared to those who wore boxers to bed.
What If You Don’t Want to Sleep Au Naturel?
The decision of what clothing to wear to bed is a very personal one. Some people feel more comfortable sleeping in pajamas or a sleep shirt — and that is okay. If you prefer to sleep in clothing, there’s no harm in continuing to do so. Just choose loose, breathable pajamas that won’t get bunched up, so you’ll sleep well.
