How Slight Sleep Deprivation Could Add Extra Pounds

[n2doc]

By Katherine Harmon

Getting seven to eight solid hours of sleep each night might seem an almost impossible luxury to many people. But not getting enough sleep is known to impair mental function and increase the risk for heart disease, among other ill effects. Accumulating evidence also suggests that even short-term, partial sleep deprivation could pave the way for weight gain and other negative metabolic consequences.

More than 28 percent of adults in the U.S. report that they get less than six hours of sleep a night, with this cumulative deprivation becoming more common in the past three decades. And now that more than 35 percent of U.S. adults are currently obese, researchers have been searching for potential links between the two conditions, in hopes of reducing the increasing health and economic burden of obesity. Establishing lack of sleep as a risk factor for weight gain could have important clinical and public health effects, possibly allowing people to make simple lifestyle changes to improve their metabolic health.

A new report, published online October 24 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, reviews 18 carefully controlled laboratory studies that tested human subjects' physiological and behavioral responses to sleep deprivation as they relate to metabolic health.

Reena Mehra, an associate professor of medicine who studies sleep and health at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and who was not involved in the new analysis, notes that the new paper is "a well done review of the experimental data."

more
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=sleep-deprivation-obesity

[liberal N proud]

1. I can't think of the last time I had 7 hours of sleep

If I went to bed at 8 PM, I would be up at 2 AM.

As it is, I go to bed between 11 and 11:30 and am awake at 5 am.

No wonder I can't get rid of the weight.

[OkieGranny]

2. I'm on a diet right now

Have a slight loss most days, but never on the days following a bout of insomnia. And it's not about snacking during those sleepless hours either; I don't eat anything after my regular bedtime. I have no difficulty believing there's a connection between sleep and metabolism.

Lost over 31 pounds since August 6!

[bemildred]

3. Good for you.

I've been at it 14 months now, 245 to 195. It does have some weird effects when you fast, but losing weight feels so good ...

There were nights I never went to bed. And you are right, you can't get in a hurry. I don't think I could do it if I was not retired, I'd have to eat to work hard every day.

[OkieGranny]

5. Congrats!

Fifty pounds is an amazing loss!

[cbayer]

4. Some alarming numbers there.

I am blessed with the ability to sleep soundly for 7 to 9 hours a night, especially since the other half got his CPAP machine. The difference it has made for him has been pretty profound - no more naps, more energy and much more attentive and "with it".