Weight Gain and Diabetes Linked to Sleep Deprivation
Even with sleeping in on New Year’s Day, many of us are starting 2008 feeling groggy. And that could undermine good intentions about losing a few pounds. New studies show that sleep deprivation affects weight gain and diabetes risk, underscoring the complex connections between our brains and digestive systems.
One report, published online by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, focused on how the suppression of deep sleep hurts the ability to regulate blood-sugar levels even in young adults.
A second, published in the journal Sleep, looked at children at four stages from birth to 7 years, and found that those who slept less than nine hours a night were more likely to be overweight or obese at age 7 than those who slept for more than nine hours. They were also more likely to have higher levels of body fat.
“Sleep is important for health and well-being throughout life,” said Ed Mitchell, a University of Auckland professor who led the study of nearly 600 New Zealand children.
Many studies have shown that reduced sleep can impair metabolism of sugar in the blood and regulation of appetite, resulting in an increased risk of obesity and diabetes, along with emotional and cognitive difficulties and damage to the immune system.
But the deep-sleep study by researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center showed that even as little as three consecutive nights of disrupted slow-wave sleep was enough to make young adults — ages 20 to 31 — less sensitive to insulin. The decrease in insulin sensitivity was equivalent to having gained 20 to 30 pounds.
“These findings demonstrate a clear role for slow-wave sleep in maintaining normal glucose control,” said Dr. Esra Tasali, an assistant professor of medicine who led the study.
Alvaro Castillo has been writing reports for 10 years on healthy sleep habits and stress with positive results. For more information check out his website at www.mynighttimehealth.com
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