Do all sendentary activities lead to weight gain: sleep does not

Jean-Philippe Chaput, Lars Klingenberg, Anders Mikael Sjödin

    54 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Purpose of review: To discuss the benefits of having a good night's sleep for body weight stability. Recent findings: Experimental studies have shown that short-term partial sleep restriction decreases glucose tolerance, increases sympathetic tone, elevates cortisol concentrations, decreases the satiety hormone leptin, increases the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin, and increases hunger and appetite. Short sleep duration might increase the risk of becoming obese, because it does not allow the recovery of a hormonal profile facilitating appetite control. Lack of sleep could also lead to weight gain and obesity by increasing the time available for eating and by making the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle more difficult. Furthermore, the increased fatigue and tiredness associated with sleeping too little could lessen one's resolve to follow exercise regimens. Summary: Short sleep duration appears to be a novel and independent risk factor for obesity. With the growing prevalence of chronic sleep restriction, any causal association between reduced sleep and obesity would have substantial importance from a public health standpoint. Future research is needed to determine whether sleep extension in sleep-deprived obese individuals will influence appetite control and/or reduce the amount of body fat.

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalCurrent Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
    Volume13
    Issue number6
    Pages (from-to)601-607
    Number of pages7
    ISSN1363-1950
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Nov 2010

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