Study Chronic sleep deprivation results in increased waist circumference and BMI

Too little sleep can affect our weight?
Everyone should already know that the human body needs enough sleep. Lack of sleep can cause serious health problems. Researchers now found that lack of sleep can lead to increased waist circumference and increased body mass index (BMI).

The researchers from the University of Leeds found in their study that sleep deprivation increases the waist circumference and the body mass index of those affected. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "PLOS ONE".

Too little sleep is unhealthy for the human body. Physicians have found that having sleep too short regularly leads to an increased body mass index. (Image: contrastwerkstatt / fotolia.com)

Physicians examine a total of 1,615 participants
In a study of 1,615 adult volunteers, experts found that an average sleep time of six hours per night resulted in an increased waist circumference of three centimeters compared to people sleeping about nine hours each night. In addition, sufferers also had higher BMI and lower levels of healthy HDL cholesterol, the researchers say.

A bedtime of only six hours led to the worst results
Blood samples were taken from the participants and the waist circumference, weight and blood pressure were recorded. During the study, subjects' sleep times were divided into three categories. These included people sleeping about six hours on average, the second group included subjects with a sleep time of about 7.5 hours. The third group slept on average about nine hours, explain the authors. Overall, people with a sleep time of six hours had the worst results in the study.

Experts recommend bedtime from six to nine hours
We found that adults with sleep problems were more likely to be overweight or obese, explains author Dr. Laura Hardie from the University of Leeds. Each person needs different amounts of sleep, but the scientists recommend a bedtime of seven to nine hours. The investigation found no link between less sleep and an unhealthy diet. This suggests that sleep appears to be a major factor in the findings, the researchers explain.

Results were based on self-reporting of participants' bedtime
However, there were also some limitations in the investigation. The results of the study are based on self-reporting of subjects about their sleep. In addition, the subjects' diet was not recorded.

Additional weight is due to lack of sleep
Of course, the question is whether too little sleep is the cause or the result of weight gain. But the study shows a clear link between sleep deprivation and obesity, the researchers explain.

We can positively influence our sleep
The findings are not good news for people with a short night's sleep. But there is also a positive factor for those affected: Our sleep can be positively influenced by most people. We can adapt our diet and sleep patterns to benefit health, say the doctors. (As)