Sleep Extension in Adults Who Are Overweight with Habitual Inadequate Sleep

Habitually sleeping <7 hours nightly is associated with adverse health consequences, including risk for obesity. However, whether extending sleep has opposite effects is unclear. In this randomized trial, researchers determined the effects of sleep extension in 80 young adults (age range, 21–40) who were overweight (body-mass index, 25.0–29.9 kg/m²) with habitual sleep duration of <6.5 hours nightly for the past 6 months.

After 2 weeks of baseline habitual sleep, participants were randomized to either 2-week sleep extension or 2-week continued habitual sleep. Participants randomized to the sleep-extension group received individualized sleep hygiene counseling sessions intended to increase sleep duration to 8.5 hours; participants in the cont…