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Sleep deprivation is associated with numerous adverse effects, yet the results of a 2005 study showed that only about 25% of U.S. adults sleep 8 hours nightly. To investigate the relation between inadequate sleep and weight gain, researchers assessed information about sleep duration and weight provided by nearly 60,000 initially healthy, nonobese women (age range, 39–65) in the 1986 Nurses' Health Study (NHS).
Median follow-up was 12 years, and results were adjusted for age, smoking, caffeine or alcohol use, spousal education, medications affecting sleep or weight, menopausal status, snoring, and shift-work history. After age adjustment, women who reported ≤5 hours of sleep nightly weighed an average of 2.47 kg more at baseline than those who reported sleeping for the median duration of 7 hours. Mean adjusted weight gains after 10 years for women who slept ≤5, 6, or 7 hours were 5.63 kg, 5.16 kg, and 4.91 kg, respectively. During the course of the study, 9,509 women developed obesity, and the risk for obesity increased in women who slept fewer than 7 hours nightly. Adjustment for confounders, self-reported dietary intake, or physical activity did not significantly alter the results.
Patel SR et al. Association between reduced sleep and weight gain in women. Am J Epidemiol 2006 Nov 15; 164:947-54.
Comment
Two reasons to consider asking about sleep duration and quality in initial and interim health histories are that sleep disturbance may provide clues to other health issues such as depression, caregiver status, gastroesophageal reflux, and sleep apnea; and that inadequate sleep contributes to suboptimal physical and neurobiologic function. For women who sleep fewer than 7 hours nightly by choice, the possibility of increased weight gain might be a persuasive argument to improve sleep habits.