A new study finds that losing about 80 minutes of sleep per night for six weeks leads to modest weight gain and increased inactivity among adults. Researchers at Columbia University tracked 95 participants and observed measurable changes in body weight and activity levels. The findings highlight risks from common sleep patterns.
Participants who delayed their usual bedtime by 90 minutes gained an average of one pound over the six-week period. They also spent 17 more minutes per day being sedentary compared to when they followed normal sleep schedules.
The research, led by Marie-Pierre St-Onge, involved adults who typically slept seven to eight hours nightly. Wrist monitors tracked sleep and activity while researchers measured weight, body composition, and hormone levels.
"Our study shows that getting adequate sleep may help reduce the risk of weight gain and obesity-related conditions like heart disease and diabetes," St-Onge said. The study was published July 6 in Annals of Internal Medicine.
