Lack of Sleep May Lead to Weight Gain... Study Reveals
A recent study has found that consistently reducing sleep hours may be linked to a gradual increase in weight. Researchers discovered that adults who slept approximately 90 minutes less per day for six weeks gained extra weight compared to periods when they received sufficient rest.
Results from the study, as reported by Fox News, indicate that sleep affects not only feelings of fatigue and energy levels, but also plays a crucial role in regulating metabolic processes and maintaining a healthy weight.
Researchers compared two periods: during the first, participants slept adequately for six weeks, while during the second, they reduced their sleep by about 90 minutes each night for the same duration.
At the end of the sleep restriction phase, participants’ weight increased by an average of nearly one pound (approximately 450 grams), and they recorded a slight increase in waist circumference.
Participants also spent more time sitting, although moderate and high-intensity physical activity levels did not change significantly.
Despite the weight gain, researchers did not observe significant changes in body fat or muscle mass among participants. They also did not track the amount of food consumed, so they could not determine the direct cause of the weight gain.
Dr. Sumi Javid, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Ohio and founder of HerMD, who was not involved in the study, stated that sleep plays a fundamental role in regulating the body’s metabolism.
Javid added that chronic sleep deprivation may make weight control more difficult, noting that women in menopause may be more susceptible to this issue, as sleep disturbances become more common during this period.
She continued, “We jeopardize women’s sleep during the same life stage when their metabolism is less able to tolerate it, and then ask them to eat less and exercise more.”
Javid pointed out that the American Heart Association now considers sleep one of the eight essential elements of heart health under its “Life’s Essential 8” initiative, recommending that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep per day.
Experts believe that menopause may make weight control more difficult for some women due to increased sleep problems associated with hormonal changes.
Researchers noted that despite its importance, the study has certain limitations, the most prominent being that its six-week duration may not be sufficient to detect clear changes in body fat, as such changes typically require more time to manifest compared to weight changes.
Additionally, the limited number of participants reduced the researchers’ ability to compare results across different groups, and some hormone measurements were taken only in the morning, which may not reflect changes occurring throughout the day.
The study’s findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that getting adequate sleep may be an important factor in maintaining a healthy weight, alongside a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
