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Research suggests a connection between sleep, obesity, and related health conditions that shouldn’t be ignored.
Cardiometabolic Health
The American Heart Association added sleep to its list of “Life’s Essential 8,” and its scientific statement recognizes sleep’s multidimensional benefits on cardiometabolic health.
Sleep’s Impact on Weight
A cross-sectional study found sleeping less than 7 hours a night nearly doubled obesity risk. Another trial showed that adding just over an hour of sleep to one’s routine cut daily calorie intake by 270. Both these benefits were seen without changing diet or exercise habits.
Stuck in a Loop
Poor sleep has been linked to both obesity and weight gain, and excess weight can, in turn, increase the risk of sleep problems such as sleep apnea. Together, these factors may fuel a cycle, making managing weight more challenging.
Less Sleep, More Hunger
Some evidence suggests that lack of sleep affects the appetite-regulating hormones ghrelin and leptin. Hunger increases, making it difficult to resist high-calorie foods. For patients who want to lose weight, a reduced-calorie diet and exercise plan can be harder to adhere to when sleep is poor.
Create a Restful Night
Advise patients to create sleep habits encouraging sufficient, quality sleep. These include sleeping in a cool, dark room, getting enough exercise and light exposure during the day, and cutting down screen time before bed.
Bottom line: Lack of sleep could be a possible roadblock for patients trying to lose weight. Ask your patients about their sleep habits and offer tips to improve sleep quality. Screen for sleep apnea when necessary.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
