While previous studies have shown that short sleep duration is associated with obesity and diabetes, the research from the University of Bristol and the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar found that just a small reduction can add up to a much bigger physical impact on the body’s metabolism.
According to Shahrad Taheri, lead author of the study and professor of medicine at the college, because of social and work commitments, people often accumulate sleep debt during weekdays and make up for lost sleep over the weekend.
But he pointed out that the research suggests that weekday sleep debt may lead to long term metabolic disruption, which may promote the onset of, or exacerbate the progression of, type 2 diabetes.
‘Sleep loss is widespread in modern society, but only in the last decade have we realized its metabolic consequences. Our findings suggest that avoiding sleep debt could have positive benefits for waistlines and metabolism and that incorporating sleep into lifestyle interventions for weight loss and diabetes might improve their success,’ Taheri explained.For the study, Taheri and his colleagues recruited 522 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in the Early Activity in Diabetes trial and randomised them into one of three groups: usual care, physical activity intervention, or diet and physical activity intervention.
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The participants completed seven day sleep diaries and calculated their weekday sleep debt. At baseline, the researchers recorded their height and weight to determine obesity status, measured their waist circumference for central adiposity, and analysed their fasting blood samples for insulin sensitivity.
At baseline, compared with participants who had no weekday sleep debt, those who had weekday sleep debt were 72% more likely to be obese, and by the six month mark, weekday sleep debt was significantly associated with obesity and insulin resistance.
At 12 months, for every 30 minutes of week day sleep debt at baseline, the risk of obesity and insulin resistance was significantly increased by 17% and 39%, respectively.
The authors advise that future interventions designed to slow progression or reverse metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes should consider all factors, including sleep, that affect metabolic function.
It needs to take into account that lost sleep disrupts the natural rhythm of hormones in the body which has an impact on insulin resistance and prediabetes.
‘Our findings suggest that avoiding sleep debt could have positive benefits for waistlines and metabolism and that incorporating sleep into lifestyle interventions for weight loss and diabetes might improve their success,’ Taheri added.
Sources : http://www.diabetesforum.com/information/research-reveals-how-sleep-loss-increases-weight-and-type-2-diabetes-risk.html
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