How many calories do I burn while I'm sleeping?
Asked by anonymous on Nov 18, 2008
in Weight Maintenance
Exactly what is my body using calories for in the middle of the night? I'm always scared that anything I eat before bed ends up just sitting in my stomach all night, or worse-turning to fat since I'm not burning it. What is the amount I can safely consume without giving my body more than it needs? Also, is food eaten in the evening not digested as well since you're not active at night?
Answer
A 150 lb person burns 95 calorie per hour while quietly sleeping. You would burn 42 calories per hour at your ideal weight of 115 lb. Those calories are burned to sustain vital functions, such as maintaining your internal temperature, pumping blood, repairing cells, etc. Physical activity is not needed for digestion. Food eaten in the evening is digested the same as food eaten during the day because the work of digestion occurs all throughout the night. But eating late a night may be energizing, making it difficult to fall asleep, and large meals late at night may promote heartburn, especially fatty, spicy, and acidic foods are chosen.
