In the ongoing discussion of just how much sleep we need each night, the research shows that our sleeping habits can impact our weight, contribute to insulin resistance, increase our risk of heart disease, contribute to premature aging by interfering with growth hormone production and accelerate tumor growth. In a recent study conducted at CedarsSinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA., researchers measured insulin sensitivity in male dogs. The study showed that dogs fed a high-fat diet for six months (to induce obesity) and then exposed to one night of sleep deprivation showed more insulin resistance (a pre-diabetic state) than obese dogs exposed to a normal night’s sleep. Let’s look at this same situation in humans. Research shows that people who sleep less than seven hours a night tend to have a higher BMI (body mass index) than those who get more sleep. What are the biological mechanisms that link sleep deprivation and weight gain?
Sleep More, Weigh Less?
