A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that adults who got about 90 minutes less sleep each night for six weeks gained roughly one pound on average compared with periods when they got enough rest. The study, which involved 95 adults at risk for heart or metabolic disease, compared six weeks of adequate sleep with six weeks of cutting about 90 minutes of sleep each night.
Findings and Implications
By the end of the sleep-restricted phase, participants weighed about one pound more on average and had slightly larger waistlines. They also spent more time sitting, although their levels of moderate and vigorous exercise remained about the same. While participants gained weight, researchers did not detect significant changes in body fat or muscle mass.
Dr. Somi Javaid, an Ohio-based OB-GYN, noted that sleep plays an important role in regulating the body’s metabolism. Chronic sleep deprivation can make it harder for the body to regulate weight, and women going through menopause may be especially vulnerable. The American Heart Association now recognizes sleep as one of its ‘Life’s Essential 8’ for heart health and recommends adults get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
