LEEDS, England — A night of poor sleep can make you bleary-eyed the next day, but when it happens regularly, it may also contribute to making you fatter. A new study finds people who lack sufficient shut-eye — particularly those who sleep less than seven hours a night — are at a greater risk of obesity, along with a host of other maladies linked to heart health.
Researchers at the University of Leeds studied 1,615 adults, all of whom reported their sleep and eating patterns. Participants also had their weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure levels recorded, as the researchers looked at how these variables were affected by a night’s rest.
Overall, the health outcomes associated with a poor quantity or quality of sleep were telling.
For example, individuals who slept an average of six hours a night had waist measurements three centimeters greater than those who got slept nine hours a night.
“Because we found that adults who reported sleeping less than their peers were more likely to be overweight or obese, our findings highlight the importance of getting enough sleep. How much sleep we need differs between people, but the current consensus is that seven to nine hours is best for most adults,” says lead researcher Dr. Laura Hardie in a news release.
Worse sleep patterns were also linked to a lower incidence of HDL, or good cholesterol, which can remove bad fat from one’s circulation.
Interestingly, the researchers found no link between shortened shut-eye and a poor diet, which came as a surprise.
While this study’s findings provide insight into the broad effects of sleep on metabolic health, it should not be mistaken for a longitudinal study.
Still, it demonstrates the overall benefits of rest, with the researchers adding that seven-to-nine hours a night is the sweet spot for most adults.
“The number of people with obesity worldwide has more than doubled since 1980,” emphasizes researcher Greg Potter. “Obesity contributes to the development of many diseases, most notably type 2 diabetes. Understanding why people gain weight has crucial implications for public health.”
The study’s findings were published Thursday in the journal PLOS One.
Health young Marines get about 5 or 6 hours sleep a night during bootcamp. They don’t seem overweight or suffering from any health issues. Maybe these people are older, less healthy to begin with. Maybe no exercise and poor eating habits. The poor sleeping patterns could have been a result of health issues not the other way around.
Hogwash!
Sleep less, eat less, and exercise more.
You will be less fat, not more.
Simply explained: more waking hours, more time to eat. (Most people don’t eat while sleeping.)
Define “poor diet”.
This ‘super-scientific’ “study” brought to you by mattress, pillow, and bedding manufacturers.
I’ve cut back on my drinking and smoking by sleeping more.
When I get less than 7 hours of sleep I eat a lot more and I eat badly. I eat junk that I wouldn’t usually even touch if I got 8 hours of sleep. It’s like I have no self control with my eating when I don’t get enough sleep.
Those nights I get less than 7 hours sleep are the nights I’m sitting in my recliner snacking and drinking beer while watching TV. I’m assuming THAT’S what causes the obesity, not the lack of sleep, per se.
Stupid researchers. They failed to discuss exercise as a variable. Invalid research.
Of course those who sleep less than 7 hours per night are fat. They have more awake time to eat. That statement is no more stupid than this study. Where in the world to the Brits get these ‘researchers’? Probably from the same freak farm the US does. At least they don’t have the gall to call them scientists.
Another dumb study.
They forgot to add that drinking reduces Diabetes, Red Wine is good, bad, Good, Bad, Good………………Drinking to much coffee is Good, Bad, Good, Bad, Really bad oh wait its really good, Chocolate is bad, good, bad, really good, unbelievably good, really really BAD………..Life itself is really, really , really dangerous and you will die in the end anyway. Did I miss anything?
Regarding “drinking reduces diabetes”… diabetics naturally drink more because they become thirsty. Diabetes causes more urination, which makes a person dehydrated and thus thisty. Any study that doesn’t factor that into the “research” is flawed from the beginning.
what utter bs
Maybe this study is flawed or there are major exceptions. Donald Trump sleeps about 4 hours a night. He’s in perfect health and working hard at making America great again.
One thing I’ve learned in the engineering field is that one can often misunderstand data. Getting cause and effect correctly can be tricky. How do you know its not the other way around, people getting fat are prone to sleep less?
How about people who exercise are more tired and therefore, sleep more?