Skimping on Sleep Leads to Weight Gain

People who shortened their sleep by around 80 minutes a night for six weeks gained weight—one pound on average—and were more sedentary, researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons have found.

“Our study shows that getting adequate sleep may help reduce the risk of weight gain and obesity-related conditions like heart disease and diabetes,” says Marie-Pierre St-Onge, a professor of nutritional medicine in Columbia’s Department of Medicine and Institute for Human Nutrition and study leader. “People tend to gain weight over the course of their adulthood, and obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease. But focusing on eating a healthier diet and getting more physical activity to offset weight gain is simplistic and can be difficult to maintain.”

Studying the effects of chronic, mild sleep deficits

Much of what’s known about the link between insufficient sleep and obesity is based on small, brief studies of people who endured severe sleep restriction (usually 4 hours of sleep opportunity). Such studies show that severe sleep deprivation leads to changes in appetite and overeating, which can contribute to weight gain over time.