Lack of sleep is associated with higher body weight

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Monday, July 19, 2010 9:02 am Email this article
Lack of sleep is associated with obesity according to a article in the Journal of the American Medical Assocation. Lots of evidence

Population studies, genetics and hormonal evidence supports the link

“Epidemiological [population studies], genetic, and endocrine [hormonal] evidence supports a link between inadequate amounts of sleep and obesity,” Lynne Lamberg writes.

 

Lack of sleep adding to obesity epidemic

Lack of sleep linked to obesity epidemic

Lack of sleep may also be fueling the obesity epidemic in the last 25 years.

“Sleep loss and obesity may be interacting epidemics,” Meir Kryger, MD was quoted as saying.

Dr. Kryger is professor of medicine at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, and chief editor of Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine and vice chair of the National Sleep Foundation based in Washington, DC.

Less than 7 hours of sleep associated with higher BMI

“Thirteen large epidemiological studies published since 2000 link hours of sleep and body weight,” Lamberg writes. “Most show that people who report averaging less than 7 hours sleep have a higher BMI.”

 

Aging

Less impact on older people

Lack of sleep seems to have less of an impact in older people according to several studies.

 

Hormones, metabolism, immunity

Lack of sleep affects hormones, metabolism and immune function

“[P]artial sleep deprivation disrupts endocrine [hormonal], metabolic, and immune function” according to a series of studies from the University of Chicago published in 1999.

 

Appetite hormones

Lack of sleep increases appetite-stimulating hormones, reduces appetite-suppressing hormones

Lack of sleep raises the appetite-stimulating hormone grehlin and suppresses the appetite-reducing hormone leptin.

Lack of sleep also interfers with the body’s sensitivity to the appetite-reducing hormone leptin.

 

Cravings

Lack of sleep increases cravings for cakes, chips and bread

Lack of sleep increased people’s appetite especially for high-carbohydrate, calorie-dense foods such as cake, chips and bread according to Lamberg.

 

Comments

Previous studies have drawn similar conclusions.

Lack of sleep increases cravings for cakes, chips and bread

One study found that lack of sleep may cause weight gain, glucose intolerance, diabetes, memory problems, and aging.

Another study found that one hour less sleep per week was associated with a 5 unit higher body mass index (BMI).

There is a very interesting book on this subject called “Lights Out”.

I mentioned it previously here.

REFERENCE

Lamberg L. Rx for obesity: Eat less, exercise more, and—maybe—get more sleep. JAMA. 2006 May 24, 295(20):2341-44.

Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Sleep