How Many Minutes of Sleep Loss Lead to Weight Gain: A Study

Researchers at Columbia University found that reducing sleep by about 80 minutes over six weeks leads to weight gain of nearly half a kilogram. Participants who slept less also spent 20 minutes less per day on physical activity. Even small but regular sleep deprivation may increase the risk of obesity and related diseases.

Researchers at Columbia University have found that even a slight reduction in nighttime sleep can lead to weight gain. The experiment involved about a hundred adults who usually slept seven to eight hours. One group was asked to cut sleep by about 80 minutes over six weeks, while the second slept as usual. As a result, those who slept less gained on average nearly half a kilogram and also spent 20 minutes less per day on physical activity. Lead author, dietitian Faris Zuraikat, noted that such an increase may seem insignificant, but it occurred in just six weeks. Study leader Marie-Pierre St-Onge emphasized that adequate sleep reduces the risk of obesity and related diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The exact mechanism is not yet clear, but disruption of hormonal regulation of hunger and satiety is suspected. Chronic sleep deprivation is also linked to cognitive decline and the risk of dementia.