Things we all know are true: Father Christmas is not real (sorry, babe), exercise torches kilojoules, and eating too many kilojoules is what causes weight gain, right?
But what about when you take in kilojoules? Should you sleep after eating? WH investigates.

The Nitty Gritty

Folk-lore has us believe we shouldn’t eat then sleep. The logic: supposedly, your metabolism slows down drastically when you sleep, making it a bad idea to eat anything – it’ll just be stored in your muffin top. But is it legit?
Read this: Does Drinking Water With Lemon Shed Kilos?

The Verdict

It depends on the size of your meal. If you eat dinner late, you’ll probably be quite hungry and will dish yourself up a bigger portion than you would have if you were not as hungry. “Excess kilojoules that are not used by the body are stored in the form of fat,” explains Horwitz. “However, if you have a smaller supper and the total kilojoule intake for the day is correct for what your body needs, and you happen to fall asleep after supper, you will not gain weight.” According to Senekal, “There is no scientific evidence that this will result in weight loss – once again it is all about eating less and being more active. If you eat the right amount and are active (30 minutes of physical activity most days a week), going to bed after a meal won’t be the cause of weight gain.”
Looking for more info on what really works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to weight-loss? Check out our weight-loss ‘myth busters’ section.